NEWS

Clinton debates sweep campus

Forums and debates tackle presidential scandal

by Benjamin Clark

Presidential controversy reached Oberlin this week in three separate discussions on Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's report and the reaction it caused around the country and the world.

Starr's report investigating Bill Clinton in conjunction with the release of Clinton's grand jury testimony has prompted talks of impeachment throughout the national news. Although no formal charges have been filed against Clinton, his relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky has been the subject of informal conversations all over Oberlin.

On Sunday, the Chaplains office sponsored a debate between Professor of Politics Ron Kahn and Associate Professor of Politics Chris Howell. The discussions continued Monday with a speech by Professor of African American Studies Booker Peek entitled, "Why a few blacks want to see Clinton go up in flames." The International Socialist Organization offered their take on the Clinton debacle on Wednesday when they hosted a forum featuring Katherine Dwyer, a writer for the International Socialist Journal.

Kahn, an expert in constitutional law, addressed the legal issues swarming around Clinton. "I am a Dudley Do-right. I believe in the use of the law," said Kahn. In his speech, entitled "Pig but still President: Does the President have a right to simple justice," Kahn outlined the crimes that Clinton supposedly committed. Perjuring, obstructing justice, suborning perjury and lying to the public in Congress are all charges that face Clinton if Congress decides to charge him.

Kahn does not believe the Starr report provides enough information to impeach Clinton, but rather that a censure would be best suited for the maligned commander-in-chief. "He should be censured for causing gross disgust for his office," said Kahn.

Howell presented a more general view of the issues with his treatment of the issues. "It is clear to me that this is about sex, not perjury," said Howell. As a native of Great Britain, Howell presented a different perspective on this national issue. "This is a very American coup. Sexuality is the new McCarthyism," said Howell. He also expressed concern over the judgment of politicians solely on character rather than on the issues at hand.

Peek picked up on the theme of character judgment in his speech, which focused on the African-American perspective. "He is no longer credible as a president. He is an embarrassment to our nation," said Peek. Despite his disagreement with Clinton's behavior, Peek expressed concern over losing Clinton's policies, which benefit African-Americans, through an impeachment. Peek said, "I wish the debate were about the Democratic programs against the Republican programs. I am troubled by the amount of time and energy we have spent on this matter."

Peek's sentiment was echoed by several attendees. "Without Clinton in the White House a lot of the liberties won in the Civil Rights movement would be lost. Despite what he has done, I feel the political platform on which he stands should be defended," said Professor of African American Studies James Millette.

Campus visitor and meeting attendee Elijah Tafari said, "Clinton could have a strip club in the White House before I go back to Ron [Reagan]."

In Clinton's defense, Peek raised the issue that Clinton has not been formally charged, and that evidence released from the grand jury hearings are uncontested. "How can Clinton be judged fairly with all of the evidence known by the Senate and the House?" said Peek.

Yet another perspective was presented by Dwyer on Wednesday. She expressed frustration with the focus on the sexual conduct of Clinton, and not his governmental policies. Dwyer and the International Socialist organization expressed particular concern over economics issues concerning the president. "We are in a situation where we are facing a huge economic meltdown," said Dwyer in reference to the crash of Asian markets. "What's going on in Washington doesn't have to do just with Clinton."

Dwyer listed a series of events which she believes are of greater importance to Clinton than the Lewinsky affair. "I believe Bill Clinton is a murderer," said Dwyer. She mentioned sanctions against Iraq, the recent bombing in Afghanistan and Clinton's stand on the death penalty as issues of significance. "These are the issues he should be impeached for, and not his personal life," said Dwyer.

It remains to be seen what will happen to Clinton. The larger issues at hand, however, involve how this issue has been handled by the American people and by its government. Kahn suggested that the independent counsel role will be reevaluated. "Framers of the Constitution did not want to see a president impeached for the reasons we see now," said Kahn.

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Copyright © 1998, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 127, Number 4, September 25, 1998

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