Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Anita Hill Remarks Haunt Clinton > WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Clinton is learning that > his own words can hurt him just as much as those of > Republicans and other critics. > > GOP lawmakers took remarks made years ago by > then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton about Anita > Hill's sexual harassment claims and aimed them directly > at the White House on Wednesday. > > On Capitol Hill, they circulated copies of comments made > about the 1991 confirmation hearings of Supreme Court > nominee Clarence Thomas. Democrats at the time supported > Hill and defended her sexual harassment allegations > against Thomas. > > In an October 1991 interview, Clinton blamed lawmakers > of both parties for conducting a Senate hearing ``that > reminded me of a trial where someone accuses someone > else of a sexual offense and then an attempt is made to > destroy the character of the victim.'' > > The campaign Wednesday was an attempt by Republicans to > counter the White House release earlier this week of > numerous friendly letters written to Clinton by Kathleen > Willey, who claims Clinton made a sexual pass at her. > The letters display a friendship between the two and > some are even signed, ``Fondly.'' Presidential aides > apparently released the letters to discredit Mrs. > Willey. > > Republicans also searched the news archives for remarks > by Vice President Al Gore -- then a senator from > Tennessee -- and pulled out a floor speech in which he > explained his vote against Thomas' confirmation. > > ``One of the things we've all been learning about on the > subject of sexual harassment is what goes on inside the > mind of a victim, which sometimes leads that person to > keep silent about it and to continue maintaining a > facade of friendship and an outward relationship so long > as that secret is kept,'' Gore said. > > In another October 1991 interview, Clinton explained why > he found both Hill and Thomas credible in their > testimony. > > ``I believed them both a little bit,'' he said. ``My > feeling after listening to the whole thing was that the > truth was something that will never come out, that in > their own way they both felt they were telling the > truth.'' -- Two rules in life: 1. Don't tell people everything you know. 2. Subscribe/Unsubscribe, email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the body of the message enter: subscribe/unsubscribe law-issues
