Reaction in Ann Arbor mirrors nation

Frustration swept from an East Quad residence hall room to the halls of the Capitol Building yesterday morning as President Bill Clinton's embarrassing grand jury testimony was broadcast around the globe.

Whether or not they believed Clinton should remain in the Oval Office, students and politicians were surprised to see their president split legal hairs in front of the grand jury.

Public Policy graduate student Fred Lehmann said, as he viewed the Clinton testimony at the Brown Jug restaurant over a breakfast of eggs and toast, he thinks the end is near for the president.

"The guy is incredibly clever to play people around the way he has," Lehmann said. "But now the grand jury is nailing him down. In the end, he'll have to admit it."

Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor) and most other members of the Michigan congressional delegation refused to comment yesterday on Clinton's testimony. A Rivers' spokesperson said Rivers needs more time to review the transcript of the testimony.

NATE BOZEN/Daily LSA junior Stephen Rom watches President Clinton's August 17 grand jury testimony at the Brown Jug on South University Avenue yesterday afternoon.

Other politicians did not remain closed-lipped on the topic and expressed their anger and dissatisfaction with the president.

Tom Hickey, the Republican candidate running against Rivers, said the Lewinsky matter has disrupted the nation long enough, and he called for Clinton to resign.

"My view was crystallized last week when I was in Washington and (the Clinton matter) was the only thing on the minds of legislators," Hickey said. "The nation's work needs to be done, and I think as long as Clinton remains in office" the country's priorities will continue to take a backseat to the scandal.

America watched the president's face turn red and his tone grow edgy as attorneys from Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's office probed into the nature of Clinton's relationship with Monica Lewinsky.

"The most powerful man in the world is squirming over a Rockettes throw rug and cherry cordials," LSA first-year student Andy Wiginton said, referring to two of the gifts the President gave Lewinsky. "It's insane.

"The first thing out of everyone's mouth is 'poor Chelsea,'" he said.

Throughout the testimony, Clinton repeatedly said he could not remember certain incidents and conversations with Lewinsky and White House staff.

Hickey did not believe Clinton's memory was faulty, and called the president an "artful dodger."

LSA first-year student Dan Miller compared Clinton to a cornered schoolboy.

"When (prosecutors) ask tough questions, he turns the blame around on them," said Miller, as he prepared to go to class. "It's almost like when a teacher catches a little kid breaking the rules."

Clinton won't be the only one wounded in the testimony's aftermath; the Democratic Party may be pulled down with him, said Ed Sarpoulis, vice president of Lansing-based EPIC/MRA polling firm.

Sarpoulis said the scandal will depress Democratic voter turnout 3to 5 percent. But the Democrats are still better off than the Republicans were in 1996 when 10 percent of Republicans stayed home due to Dole's weak candidacy, he said.

"If (the Democrats) get back to talking issues, they might not do as well as they would have without the scandal, but they could still hold their own," Sarpoulis said.

With 64 incumbents losing their seats in the Democrat-controlled state house of representatives because of term limits, Sarpoulis said the Democrats are in danger of losing their majority status.

"As of today, the most Democrats can hope for (in the House) is a 55-55 tie," Sarpoulis said.

University College Democrats Chair Kelley Boland said she does not think the testimony will damage Ann Arbor's voter turnout in the November election.

"From what I've seen, (Starr's investigation) is a lot of heresy," said Boland, an LSA junior. "I think people in Washtenaw County - and especially students - vote based on issue and not scandal."

The fall election and the ultimate result of the scandal are not the only concerns on the public mind. Some students and politicians are worried the Oval Office itself will be tainted.

"Now that I'm actually seeing (the testimony), I think it's really sad," said Law first-year student Chris Smith. "It's devastating to the presidency, and Clinton's behavior is to blame."

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