Congressional delegation assesses scandal's impact

But members of the Michigan delegation had mixed opinions about whether he can turn the federal government back toward business as usual.

Looming over the speech were accusations that the president had an affair with a White House intern and then tried to cover it up by telling her to lie about it.

"People in the chamber, and I know people across America, had that in their mind as they were listening to the speech, and it is making it more difficult for him to communicate with the country right now," said U.S. Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor).

"Will these things be a distraction in the future? I suspect so until there is some resolve to them," said Rep. David Bonior (D-Mount Clemens) and the second highest-ranking Democrat in the House.

"But he (the president) has laid down a firm, positive agenda for the country and it's up to Congress to meet his expectations and I'm going to do all I can to push these issues," Bonior said.

U.S. Rep. Nick Smith (R-Addison) said the allegations were "disrupting the effectiveness of the White House to work with Congress to come up with some of the solutions to important issues."

Some senior Democrats, in support of the president, asked the American public to wait until more information was available.

"So far we've had the clear and unambiguous statement from the president that nothing occurred," said U.S. Rep. John Dingell of Dearborn, the longest continuously serving Democrat in the House.

"Until I have somebody responsible who will come forward and say something else, I intend to continue believing the president," he said.

Bonior agreed. "The president has strongly denied these allegations. I think the charges are serious, but it's important not to get distracted by this and just focus on the issues that he talked about," he said.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said the president demonstrated an ability to concentrate on the nation's business despite controversy.

"I think he showed just how focused he can stay on issues like education, the deficit and health care and those are issues people want us to focus on," he said.

Lawmakers from both parties were cautious in responding to the allegations out of respect for the presidency.

"As a scientist, I always deal in facts," said U.S. Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-Grand Rapids).

"I believe the charges that have been made against the president in recent days are both serious and troubling," said Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.).

"Out of respect for the presidency," the senator said, "we have an obligation to wait until we have the facts, and then we can reach whatever conclusions and judgments are appropriate at that time."

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