LETTERS: TWO MORE YEARS OF EMBARRASSMENT

To the editor:

Anybody who has listened to my radio show, "The Florida Round Table," or read my columns knows that I have not been for impeaching Bill Clinton. They also know I had hoped (although I didn't believe) that he was not lying about his relations with Monica Lewinsky. When it became clear that the president had, in fact, had an affair with Lewinsky, my reaction was a deep feeling of sadness, certainly sadness for Hillary Clinton and Chelsea. Sadness for all the White House aides, Cabinet officer and supporters of Clinton who, over the months, had publicly stood by the president and argued that he told the truth. Sadness for the American presidency, which has been reduced to locker-room jokes and could be the venue for an X-rated film. Sadness for the political system, which has been demeaned to such a point that this kind of behavior appears to be acceptable to the American people. Sadness for a country where character and integrity do not count as long as the economy is good. But, must of all, sadness for a society that is sending out a message to our young people that it is all right to cheat and lie as long as you don't get caught. It also teaches our youths that if you get caught there really is no penalty for wrongdoing. Just say you caused pain to everyone, you are sorry and you will not do it again. And you can move on.

The Watergate affair and Nixon's resignation from office showed that no one is above the law, not even a president. The argument that other presidents have done the same, or worse, was rejected by the House of Representatives. The issue was the president's conduct, not anyone else's. The reaction of the American public to Clinton's actions has shown that this may not be true anymore. This president appears to be above the law. He has made his own rules. He has continually bent the truth and gotten away with it. Even in his short speech to the country he was still at it. He said, "As you know, in my deposition in January I was asked a question about my relationship with Monica Lewinsky. While my answers were legally correct, I did not volunteer information." This is yet another instance of Clinton's bending the truth. When you read the definition of sexual conduct as set forth by the judge in the Jones case, there is no way Clinton was legally correct. He just cannot tell the truth.

I still do not want him impeached, although my reasons are different today than before. I just do not think Bill Clinton is worth the trauma impeachment would cause this country. We have been embarrassed for six years. There are only two more years of embarrassment left.

LOY FREY JR., President

Former Members of Congress

Orlando, Fla.