Speaker looks at Clinton scandal

As President Clinton's legal and political crises continue to be the focus of news programs and publications nationwide, questions about media coverage and independent counsel Kenneth Starr's motives have started to arise.

At a public meeting held by the University's Students for Social Equality last night at the Michigan League, Martin McLaughlin, a staff writer for the World Socialist Website, posed questions and answers to a group of about 15 spectators.

"We propose to investigate the investigators," McLaughlin said. "I find that the Starr report is the crime."

McLaughlin depicted the investigation as a politically motivated witch hunt, pointed to a conservative conspiracy at its foundation and suggested billionaire publisher Richard Scaife was among the people conspiring against the president.

Citing articles from foreign newspapers, McLaughlin said the world sees the possible impeachment proceedings as an assault on democracy.

"In Europe and in Asia there have been questions raised about the political stability of America," McLaughlin said.

He said foreign media members' outside perspectives allows them to observe the potential impeachment hearings as a conflict between conservatism and liberalism, rather than a sexual, criminal or partisan debate.

McLaughlin described a 25-year process of a national drift toward ignoring the voice of the working class.

He said there is a lack of representation for citizens who are not wealthy, and that monetarily driven policy making has led to a change in political outlook.

"The social polarization between the wealthy and everybody else leads to Congress' disregard for public opinion," McLaughlin said. "The current situation is not possible in a politically healthy climate."

McLaughlin spoke against Starr, who he said "is not a politically neutral figure. He grew up selling Bibles." But McLaughlin was quick to point out he does not support Clinton.

McLaughlin's assault on the potential impeachment proceedings also targeted the U.S. media.

"The media has played the role of an active co-conspirator in the creation of a 'Banana Republic' where any minority can be subject to an investigation," McLaughlin said.

Audience members said that although the opinions spoken last night were extreme, the concerns raised were valid and calls for an open discussion.

"I thought it was informative and came from a different perspective," said LSA first-year student Frank Giacola. "It illuminated some of the right-wing elements of the crisis, but I didn't buy the whole thing."

09-24-98