Hyde on Children and Impeachment

The notion that the Senate must convict President Clinton to avoid setting a terrible example for the children of the United States is ludicrous. My first thought is, does Rep. Henry Hyde have any children? Parents have the responsibility of setting the proper example for their children. Presidents, members of Congress, athletes and movie stars don’t determine how your children view the world. Parents hold these controls.

Smart parents use every situation to teach their children values. Negative examples as well as positive examples are used in the teaching of values. Rep. Hyde’s comments were desperate, misinformed and laughable. Smart parents will use them to teach their children how not to make a fool of yourself.

HERMAN CLAYBORN

Fountain Valley

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Why does this country spend billions of dollars on education and law enforcement to instill in our youth and the citizens the importance of honesty, respect for the law and equal protection and accountability under the law, and then not want to convict Bill Clinton? He is an admitted felon and a pathological liar. His actions demonstrate he believes he is above the law. The highest office in the land is being held by a character who is completely the antithesis of what we believe to be a good citizen. I say, convict Clinton for the children.

DONN CANZANO

Pasadena

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I would like to comment on the ubiquitous question people insist on bringing up: In view of President Clinton’s lapse of judgment, what shall we tell our children? It seems to me that a better question by far is what shall we tell our children about the partisanship, the hypocrisy, the overinflated egos of our representatives in the House?

How can we justify to our children the public charade that’s been going on for a year with total disregard of the specifics for impeachment set forth in the Constitution by the framers? What shall we tell our children about Kenneth Starr’s very public, out-of-control hatred toward our president, his waste of public funds and his support by a wealthy ultraconservative coalition?

These questions seem to me to be much more relevant than whether Clinton lied about an unfortunate and ill-advised affair in order to protect his family.

EVA SACHS

Newport Beach

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Regardless of the outcome in the Senate impeachment hearings on William Jefferson Clinton, it is certain that his reprehensible behavior while president and his crass commercialism of turning the White House/Lincoln Bedroom into the most expensive “bed & breakfast” in America has brought dishonor and ridicule to all of the American citizens who still believe in honor and honesty, as I do.

RICKIE KLAEGE

Los Angeles

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The Democrats in the Senate have no shame. They want to take back the Senate so badly that they will hold their noses and vote to acquit a president who has committed reprehensible acts.

PEG FEKETE

Sun City

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By using force to secure the appearance of Monica Lewinsky before them with no prior approval from the Senate, the House managers have stretched the limits of their absurd farce into tastelessness and cruelty. Reminiscent of the “Saturday night massacre,” this appeal to force as an attempt to escape imminent defeat shows us that the Republicans truly do have no understanding of the difference between sex and harassment.

MARK B. RING

Irvine

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Prosecutors colluding with jurors? How else could prosecutors (the House managers) read written, prepared responses to questions from jurors (the senators) unless they were in cahoots together beforehand?

GED KENSLEA

West Hollywood

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The mindlessly repeated attacks by Democrats on Republicans beg a definition: sound bites uber alles.

LOUISE CLARKE STONE

JACK I. STONE

Sunland

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Bill Clinton is the Pied Piper of deceit. How many senators will dance to his tune? Do they remember the fate of the rats in the original story?

JOAN DOWNEY

Thousand Oaks

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When was the last time our elected officials worked this hard in Washington? Could you imagine how fast legislation would move on major issues like Social Security, defense conversion, the balanced budget and other reforms that evolve over many congressional sessions?

I applaud the “new” Washingtonian work ethic. Please drop the impeachment trial and go on with the business of the country. Show the voters you can work this hard on issues that matter to them.

TODD WARDEN

Los Angeles

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Legal legacy from the two most celebrated trials of the ‘90s: Popularity and power overwhelm evidence and justice.

KRISTINE EVANS

Newport Beach

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The Simpson trial showed that money can obstruct justice; the Clinton trial shows that hatred can obstruct sanity.

HARRY LEVIN

Woodland Hills

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The judicious application of 14 wooden stakes appears to be the only way to finish this American nightmare. One stake each to be driven through the hearts of the 13 House managers and one implanted in the middle of the chest of Starr.

NORMAN M. ROSENFELD

Los Angeles

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When form takes over substance: the impeachment affair.

CAROLE MISSIRLIAN

Northridge