Yesterday, I wasn’t too happy with Clinton’s prospects. Relying mostly on summaries and reports, I thought it looked like a lose-lose situation for Clinton. I took the perjury charge rather seriously. Appropriate subject matter or not- you don’t lie under oath.
But now I’m watching the video of the August Clinton deposition. If the House starts an impeachment inquiry over this, I’ll have wished that gunman got a little farther. It’s pretty clear that Clinton is acknowledging a very inappropriate relationship with Lewinsky. He words it to stop just short of sexual intercourse. That much is clear.
So why people insist on crucify him for using “legal” language in fending off closer attacks is beyond me. This man is still threatened with criminal legal action. If you’re ever in court, “legalistic” terms are going to be pretty damn important to you. “Legalistic” terms are why people can get out of “read my lips- no new taxes” and the like. This city, and most of American business, *thrives* on this language.
And now we’ve come to this. Wrecked the already precarious “balance” of the grand jury process. Overturned a century of presumptions about the conduct of those surrounding the President. Undermined the security of the office. And turned impeachment into just another (albeit bigger than usual) stick in the political weapons closet.
So, like everyone else, here’s my take on the matter. Clinton should come on television tonight. Make it clear that he is sincerely and honestly apologizing to the nation for allowing them to be mislead. And make it clear this is the last time he’s going to apologize. Then he should point out that even more important, he has his wife and daughter to contend with for the rest of his life. And then he should look straight into the camera and tell Ken Starr to fuck off.
And then he should get back to the business of being the President.