Who won the latest Iraqi War? CNN polls claim that the U.N. and Saddam Hussein were the two big winners. Others claim that it was the Iraqi people. Few have identified the real winner. He is President Bill Clinton. President Clinton was all set to do what his polls told him the American people wanted. Data indicated that 76% of the American people wanted him to attack Iraq. Yet, when he sent the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Advisor to a town meeting at Ohio State University, the world discovered a deep well of anti-war spirit. The President and his administration were stunned by the public's reaction. Every public place that members of the administration went, someone was screaming anti-war slogans or asking anti-war questions. The President realized at once that if he pressed the country into war his own poll ratings would suffer. He could not afford falling popularity ratings at a time when his own high poll numbers permitted him to remain silent about his latest indiscretion.
President Clinton's personal popularity prevents Congress from beginning impeachment proceedings. Many of the members are so disturbed by the President's political direction that they wish to reverse the outcome of two Presidential elections. Since the country is far from the next Presidential election, they believe that the only other option to stop President Clinton is to remove him from office. To do this they need an impeachable offense. Prosecutors and reporters have searched the entire Clinton record from his day's as Governor of Arkansas to his personal acts while in the White House. They have yet to hold "the smoking gun." Without a criminal act, it is hard for Congress to remove a popular officeholder.
While I frequently disagree with President Clinton's political direction, I strongly disagree with those who seek to remedy the situation through impeachment. This is the same behavior as was seen in the Old World when there was strong opposition to the King's political direction. Usually the opposition killed the King and his family, installing someone else whose political direction would be more pleasing to their interests. Sometimes there was a forced retirement or abdication in place of death. In both cases the rules were changed in the middle of an administration. These changes were often accompanied by uprisings by the King's supporters/subjects and the killing of the political enemies on both sides.
Our Founding Fathers recognized the weakness in the political systems found in the Old World. They established written rules so as to prevent that kind of disruption in our political process. Once the President is elected they deliberately made it difficult to change administrations. Only four items are listed in the Constitution as grounds for impeachment, Treason, Bribery, High Crimes, and Misdemeanors. The standards are so high that to date no President has ever been removed by Congress.
Richard Nixon resigned when he realized that his political base in the Senate was dangerously eroded. Andrew Johnson held onto the Presidency when the Senate failed to convict him at the conclusion of a highly political trial.
Staying in power is far more important to President Clinton than stopping Saddam Hussein. He was not about to give anti-war protesters the opportunity to drag him down. Kofi Annan may have saved the President from being dragged into a trial by the United States Senate and saved America from facing a highly political impeachment trial.
To be saved from the embarrassment caused by President William Jefferson Clinton, America had to give up was its self-respect and its international political independence. The public should be ashamed of this President. The damage he has caused to America's position in the world is incalculable. He should change his ways immediately. He should put the welfare of the country ahead of his own "place in history."
Until there is irrefutable evidence, as in the Nixon case, there should not be an impeachment and Senate trial. Neither should there be a forced resignation. Since political stability is essential to an orderly America, Bill Clinton should be permitted to finish his term of office. Unless he refuses to act like a President and continues to be a liability to the country.
Lee A. Presser
