In defense of Clinton's Presidency
As a staunch conservative, I am quite astonished to find myself writing an essay in defense of a president who's political aims conflict so directly with my own. My defense, however, is not of William Jefferson Clinton, but of his right to remain president of the United States.
Recently, the media has raised a great deal of commotion concerning the president's alleged affair with a then twenty-one year-old White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. The gravest question raised, however, has been wheather or not the president asked Lewinsky to lie about their affair, thus constituting an obstruction of justice, an impeachable offense. The idea that Bill Clinton could be impeached under the guise of obstruction of justice seems to be, itself, unjust. Americans claim that it is not the affair for which Clinton should be removed from office, but for his attempt to lie to cover it up. This shows the confused state of American morality today. The act of adultery is, in and of itself, a lie. No man says to his wife, "Well, Hon, I'm going over to the office to bang the new intern." The moral distinction that the American public seems to have drawn is at best offensive, and at worst indicative of a complete lack of moral and ethical understanding. The astute among the American public knew that Clinton was an adulterer (read- "liar") when they elected him in 1992. By electing Clinton, they showed that Americans would accept a man with a dubious moral character as their leader, even embrace him. As time has progressed, Clinton has been seen to manipulate, avoid, and obfuscate the truth at every turn. Still, he has been loved by the American public. These latest allegations against the president do nothing more than illustrate the character he has shown himself repeatedly to have. For the American public and media to turn against Clinton at this stage of his presidency, show nothing other than the public's own inability to adhere to it's own morality. An impeachment of Clinton for this alleged offense would be inconstant with the prevailing morality of America. There are those who would like to imagine that America has turned itself around since the elections of ninety-six and decided that a man without a conscience is not fit to lead this nation. This, however is nothing more than fantasy. Own up to your choice, America. See yourselves in your democratically-chosen leader and accept that this is the man that represents our nation. Keep Clinton as your president and as a constant reminder of who you are. Use him to help define who you want to represent you and who you want to be in the next millenium.
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