'U' professors debate Clinton fate, scandal

While political pundits across the nation discuss whether President Clinton will survive the latest scandal rocking the White House, University experts gathered at the Alumni Center last night to discuss Clinton's fate and examine the media's role in the events.

Communications Studies Prof. Michael Traugott said independent counsel Kenneth Starr's investigation of allegations that the president had an affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky is Starr's last attempt at indicting the president.

SARA STILLMAN/Daily Communication Studies Prof. Michael Traugott spoke yesterday about President Clinton's fate and the role of the media in the recent presidential scandal.

"This is the highest-stakes poker game we've ever seen played out in public in the history of American politics," said Traugott, adding that the investigation has over-stepped its original boundaries. "It's put up or shut up time (for Starr)."

Starr was appointed by Attorney General Janet Reno to investigate the President's involvement in the failed Whitewater land development deal in Arkansas. Since his appointment, he has spent nearly $25 million investigating Clinton.

But after failing to turn up evidence of any wrongdoings by Clinton in Whitewater, Starr has turned to the possibility that Clinton obstructed justice by asking Lewinsky to lie.

"It's now clear that Starr's last shot at getting the president is the obstruction of justice route," Traugott said.

Traugott said the group of people involved in this scandal are interesting.

"This is one of the most unsavory set of characters we've seen together ... in a long time," Traugott said.

Former University political science Prof. George Grassmuck said the independent counsel has grown exponentially since its conception in the 1970s.

"Now, the media is the fourth branch of government, but do we have a fifth branch, the independent counsel?" Grassmuck asked. "The question now is, are (these investigations) valid? Should they continue?"

Traugott said Starr will continue to gather evidence because the Congress that passed the Independent Counsel Law in the 1970s "created an office which is essentially untouchable."

Despite the scandal, Clinton's approval rating is as high as any sitting president's has ever been, Traugott said.

"The problem with this is the analysis on why these (ratings) are going up," Traugott said. "I don't think anybody really knows (why)."

Traugott said the media should be more careful about the stories they pursue, warning of sources that plant false stories. "Now the mainstream media has found it acceptable to quote from these stories."

Grassmuck agreed, saying some stories are reported without checking facts.

"The worst part of it all is that now people say 'alleged' and then they forget that and can say anything," Grassmuck said.

With the Iraq situation heating up, some wondered whether Clinton's troubles will affect U.S. foreign policy. Grassmuck said the scandal will not change a thing.

"I think the foreign policy path was set long before this outburst," Grassmuck said.

Engineering first-year student Mark McCasey said the media's coverage of the scandal has seemed tainted.

"I came to get the opinions of a lot of different people," McCasey said. "I thought it might be refreshing to get the opinion from a factual point of view.

02-04-98