Clinton: 'I Can't Recall'

 

President Bill Clinton "can't recall" but you surely can.

Now that Mr. Clinton faces the possibility of being disbarred from the practice of law in Arkansas, his covey of paid political liars is abroad trying to promote the idea of what amounts to a "plea bargain" for him.

He has slipped through virtually every noose that he has cast for himself, even escaping conviction by the Senate after the House of Representatives impeached him for lying under oath and obstructing justice. But he faced Judge Susan Webber Wright's judgment that he had lied under oath and sought to obstruct justice in a federal court case, and thus was in contempt of court. When he didn't appeal and paid a $90,000 fine in that case, he accepted that judgment.

But now he is trying to dodge disbarment. It's not that he plans to practice law after his term ends next January. He just wants to avoid the embarrassment. So his lackeys are not suggesting he's not guilty of lying under oath so much as they are suggesting a mere "reprimand" or "suspension" would be appropriate instead of disbarment.

As this issue has been in the news, TV broadcasts have repeatedly replayed the videotaped deposition of Mr. Clinton testifying -- under oath -- in the Paula Jones's federal case. Do you recall his lying pretenses?

Were Mr. Clinton and Monica Lewinsky ever alone together in the Oval Office? Mr. Clinton rolled his eyes and turned his head upward, as though he were searching for some obscure fact that just might have been so insignificant that it had slipped his memory. Then he said, obviously dishonestly, that he "didn't recall."

Did he have sexual relations with Miss Lewinsky? Mr. Clinton against dishonestly answered, with emphasis, "No!" (Remember, also, his TV performance: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky!")

There's more, but it is obvious that he knew the truth and meant to tell lies. The issue now is not Paula Jones or Monica Lewinsky. The issue is a president, a lawyer, having sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, then telling bare-faced lies.

Our whole court system of justice is based on the requirement of truthful testimony under oath. Lies under oath undermine the courts and justice. All witnesses, all lawyers, and certainly a president must be held to the standard of truth when testifying under oath. This was not just a "political" lie.

If a president, if a lawyer, is not required to tell the truth under oath and avoid obstruction of justice, what standard will prevail for ordinary citizens?

Disbarring Mr. Clinton would be a mild penalty, not really an inconvenience. Anything less would be a further defiance of justice.

                                                                                           
                                              Politics & Voting Return               Top Return