LETTER: MINISTER URGES SUPPORT FOR CLINTON

To the editor,

The President, Bill Clinton, is coming to Cape Girardeau to kick-off his campaign for re-election for president of the United States. Even I, a 78-year-old senior citizen, a retired Southern Baptist minister for 50 years, am as excited now as anyone else.

Eighteen years ago in Blytheville, Ark., where I served 26 years as Director of Missions, serving 42 churches, I was invited to a strategy meeting with some of the Democrat leaders in Mississippi County, Ark., to meet Bill Clinton, who was a candidate for governor in Arkansas. What an honor it was for me. During my tenure of service in Arkansas I had the privilege of meeting many of our elected officials, both state and national. Bill was elected governor that year. I never dreamed that I would be looking forward to seeing Bill Clinton again, let alone his running for re-election as our President.

I mentioned this meeting with Mr. Clinton to the editor of this newspaper and he suggested I write a letter to the editor. He asked me if I, a minister of the gospel, could support and vote for Bill Clinton, with all the rumors circulating about his moral life. My reply to him was YES I can, because I have no proof that those rumors are true. Many people have had their characters ruined and their lives upset by rumors, etc., because someone wanted to destroy or discredit them for various reasons.

People don't throw rocks at an apple tree when it is not bearing fruit. Bill Clinton has been good for our nation. His program is bearing fruit ... So the cry is, "Somehow, we must stop him, ruin he and his family at cost."

Two former pastors of Bill Clinton were personal friends of mine, and at no time have they ever down-graded him.

I have never met Bill's wife, Hillary, and his daughter, Chelsea, but some day that opportunity might come my way.

Yes, I am a sincere supporter of the Clinton-Gore ticket for a return to the White House for four more years.

Rev. John D. Gearing

Cape Girardeau