Washington Embarrassments

By all means release the Clinton tape, but only in conjunction with the tape showing Rep. Newt Gingrich shaking hands with President Clinton over his promise of campaign reform, followed by highlights of the speaker scuttling any attempt by the House to discuss the issue. And while we’re at it, let’s replay Rep. Dan Burton’s famous “Clinton is a scumbag” remark, along with his confession of his having fathered a child during an adulterous affair.

ED SILVERSTEIN

Santa Monica

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How easy it is for one political party to try to destroy the president of the other party: just file a civil suit, have a special prosecutor appointed who is a member of its own party and then release grand jury testimony, including a video, to embarrass the president. Never mind the loss of prestige and maybe the influence of the United States on world affairs and making us an object of ridicule in the rest of the world.

STEPHEN J. HOWARD

Studio City

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I can’t believe the religious turnaround our president is making lately. He started off by claiming he misled us and was being victimized by an overzealous prosecutor. He then decided it would be better to show more remorse and sorrow for his indiscretions and repented in front of a religious breakfast group. He now wants to meet regularly with religious ministers so they can be near him to help him avoid temptation. What will he think of next? How about a public exorcism by the pope?

ROBERT DOVIDIO

Newbury Park

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Are those emperors of ancient Rome, Nero and Caligula, who knew a thing or two about orgies, laughing up their togas in Hades at the Starr report?

MILTON W. KAGEN

Los Angeles

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Re Alexander Cockburn’s Sept. 16 Column Left: Cockburn misses the point. The charges against Clinton in the Starr report are not about sex. Clinton lied under oath to a federal grand jury. He lied to the American people for seven months. He is accused of witness tampering, subornation of perjury and obstruction of justice. These are serious felonies. Like Richard Nixon, it is not the initial act (sex or the Watergate break-in) that is the problem. It is the cover-up and the lies.

As a parent I have explained to my children that true contrition comes not only from confession and forgiveness, but a willingness to accept your punishment. Mr. Clinton, as your last act as president of this country, give our children a good moral example. Accept your punishment gracefully and resign.

PHILLIP MYER

Altadena

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I was gratified to discover, buried on Page 18 (Sept. 17), that Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, had a five-year affair. I’m gratified because I know that your paper, along with all the other papers and tabloids (a distinction that I am finding difficult to make) should soon be publishing the graphic details of their sexual conduct.

After all, why be hypocritical about these matters? I have no desire to read about the sexual lives of politicians. I’m interested in their policies and effectiveness on the issues I care about. But if we’re going to be subjected to this barrage of indecent coverage, let’s apply it to everyone, and with equal focus. Go ahead and ask every single politician in Congress about his or her sexual faithfulness, and then investigate and report. That should make for some amusing reading.

REILLY POLLARD

Goleta

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How much space on the front page of the newspaper are you going to allot for the story of Rep. Hyde’s mistress, and how many reporters will be assigned to investigate? Then how about putting the facts about Rep. Dan Burton’s affairs on the front page? You did run a small item buried in the back pages about Rep. Helen Chenoweth. These people are hypocrites! Get real.

DOROTHY MELVILLE

San Juan Capistrano

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I marvel at the moral outrage by Ken Starr and Republican legislators over a lie about an extramarital affair. Have we forgotten the spectacle of big tobacco company executives lying under oath to Congress over matters of deadly consequence. Are any in jail? Since tobacco companies contribute mightily to the Republican Party and Starr is in their employ, I guess this perjury wasn’t such a big deal.

C. JEAN COHEN

Westminster

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Skeletons are now coming out of the closets but this is not the issue.

It is the lie, cover-up and abuse of authority.

JACK G. SMITH JR.

North Hills

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One can’t help but wonder how those in our military establishment feel about their secretary of Defense saying, “As long as he continues to [effectively carry out his duties], I think we will have to support him” (Sept. 16). If a senior military officer behaved as our commander in chief did, would Secretary William Cohen say the same thing? Where is the outrage?

The president’s whole Cabinet should resign en masse, saying that they cannot serve under someone who behaves and lies as he has. He has to resign too for the good of the country.

C.V. RUZEK JR.

Los Angeles

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Until Starr submitted his findings to the Judiciary Committee, I don’t believe I’d ever heard anyone actually use the word “salacious.” Now it seems the story can’t be covered without the word “salacious” creeping in. In much the same way the phrase “rush to judgment” was pounded into our collective consciousness after the O.J. Simpson trial, it seems “salacious” is the adjective of the moment. Why don’t you people (press/politicians) pull out your trusty thesaurus and use something else i.e., “lewd,” “lascivious,” “obscene” or maybe even “wicked”? Much like the story itself, we’re all getting a little tired of hearing “salacious.”

JOHN DWYER

Redondo Beach

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This is an embarrassing episode for our country. With the numerous international and domestic affairs that need attention, our top political leaders are dedicating the majority of their time to debating sex, lies and videotape. At this point, I believe what the president did pales compared to the political bickering and posturing that has followed. Give it a rest and get back to work, children!

JAMES LENTHALL

Laguna Niguel

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I am becoming increasingly dismayed by the “public” in public opinion polls. How ignorant has our society become? The truth is, among an intelligent, well-informed and judicious public our president has exactly 0% support.

D. DAVID CARMITCHEL

Pismo Beach

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The issue is not sex! The issue is the lack of honor, integrity, morality and honesty. President Clinton has none of those qualities, and is unfit for the office. Congress must impeach him.

STEVE GICK

Lake Forest

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Is it lying to not tell the truth to a question that should have never been asked?

GARY W. GRAY

Costa Mesa