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| There's a Time and Place
by John M. Curtis Copyright September 15, 1998
Some think the only 'clear and present danger' was to the Clinton presidency, certainly not — at least for now — Iraq’s neighbors or U.S. security. While punishing Iraq for impeding UNSCOM weapons inspections is a more plausible excuse, citing global security, at this point, is quite a stretch. "It’s difficult to support the timing [emphasis added] of the move," said a skeptical U.S. senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.), mirroring suspicions that politics played an integral part in current military plans. Few really take exception to the U.S. Fnally putting some teeth into its policy on Iraq. Since the tawdry scandal broke 11 months ago, president Clinton has discovered a new love affair with traveling, preferring to create headlines and photo-ops, rather than remain at the mercy of the runaway train in the beltway. Together with Israeli commandos, Clinton is busy learning new survival skills, prior to what might be his grandiose last stand. With the impeachment vote looming and with undecided House members getting off the fence, some are already looking for the white flag. Since the new mission in Iraq, the impeachment debate now seenis to be shelved — and well it should to support the men and women in uniform. Certainly his cabinet hopes that the 'comeback kid' can do it again. But few doubt that his nearly year-old damage control strategy hasn’t hurt his cause. Following Dick Morris over the falls by botching his acts of contrition was entirely avoidable. Beginning first with his January 24th finger-waving episode, next his bereft August 17th mea culpa, and then his feeble apology on December 12th, president Clinton administered his own self-inflicted wounds. Teflon and credibility can’t last forever when plausible deniability is stretched to the breaking point. While some blame Clinton’s problems on the demise of the imperial presidency, the truth is that he — neither his 'enemies' nor political trends — placed himself in the current dilemma. Only president Clinton subscribes to his convoluted delinition of 'sexual relations.' Bringing disrepute and disgrace to his office was bad enough, but masterminding assailable alibis and limp excuses is beyond comprehension. Why, from the outset, did he have to weave a web of deceit, over, by most peoples’ standards, a relatively inconsequential peccadillo? Yes, many people — including partisans like Alan Dershowitz — are still in disbelief over how such a trivial event transformed itself into impeachable conduct. No wonder the public opposes impeachment: They can’t believe that he would have risked his presidency over such senseless behavior. His conduct was truly mind-boggling. How could he have done this to himself? Human behavior experts have the answers if we’d bother to listen: Addictions often derail the best laid plans. Choosing the path of denial, cover up and deceit are all part of the pattern. Blaming the press or shadowy conspiracies play well with the public but fails to identify the architect of his own self-destruction. When narcissus drowned in the pool admiring his own reflection, it conveyed the lethal power of self-indulgence. Now we’ve seen a president whose sexual proclivities might have cost him his deserved place in history. No longer viewed as an acceptable role model, president Clinton is a tragic disappointment to a hero-starved Generation X. Whether his behavior rises to the level of an impeachable offense, it hardly sets an appropriate standard of fitness to serve in elected office. Many are asking why elected officials appear at odds with the American people on the issue of impeachment? It’s easy to ask simple questions like: 'Do you want President Clinton impeached for lying under oath?' Most people don’t want to see anyone suffer — especially if their crimes are victimless. Asking a slightly different question: 'Do you think president Clinton deserves to be impeached for lying under oath?' This raises an entirely different issue. Unlike elected representatives, the American people don’t take an oath to preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States. Don’t expect the average citizen to comprehend the gravity of lying under oath on the rule of law. While the President and his handlers have botched his damage control strategy, it’s still not too late. If he’s capable of giving an exhaustive explanation of why we need to attack Iraq, he’s certainly capable of giving a more satisfactory accounting of himself in the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Continuing to blow smoke and recite unacceptable denials only makes matters worse. It’s time for the president to step up to the plate, acknowledge his wrongdoing — not about sex but about deliberately lying under oath and deceiving the American people — and swallow his bravado. If he’s truly sincere, the runaway train can be stopped. But only President Clinton is able to reverse directions, correct misunderstandings, make amends and prove that he’s ready to reclaim that precious commodity known as public trust. Most Americans want to support their President on domestic and foreign matters. But it’s essential that he take the same decisive steps to make amends with Congress and American people that he’s taken to preserve freedom in the Persian Gulf. Most Americans are behind him today, but it’s his turn to assure that we’re behind him tomorrow — regardless of all the legal and political advice, the choice is still his. About the Author John M. Curtis is director of a West Los Angeles think tank specializing in human behavior, health care and political research and media consultation. He’s a seminar trainer, columnist and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma. |
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aking cover from the political schrapnel in Washington, the White House has sought safer ground in the Terrorist-ravaged West Bank and Gaza Strip. Packing up the White House spin machine, secretary of state Madeleine Albright bristled at the suggestion that her boss was 'wagging the dog,' juxtaposing the 'urgent' mission to the Middle East as a convenient decoy. Now it’s defense secretary Cohen’s turn in the hot seat, justifying president Clinton’s curious decision to start bombing Iraq just 24 hours before the House debated articles of impeachment.|
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