Awhile back, when I was a young 'un, one of the things that shocked
Puritanical citizens of the the US about President Nixon was the large
number of obscenities he used on a tape. This undermined support for him in
what his erstwhile Vice President, Spiro Agnew had called "middle America,"
and helped tip the balance toward impeachment proceedings and Nixon's
resignation.
I know things have settled down a bit on the Monica Lewinski (sp?) front,
but in some ways the brouhaha concerning her is on the same level. Neither
the use of obscenities nor nookie with someone 20+ years younger violate the
President's oath of office or fit with the idea of high crimes and
misdimenors. But it's quite possible that l'affaire Lewinski could tip the
balance against Clinton, coming as it does on top of six years of sleaze,
betrayal, and mediocrity.
as usual, time will tell.
in pen-l solidarity,
Jim Devine
