The nation must move on

Trial was plagued by partisanship

For the second time in our country's history, the Senate was forced to vote on the guilt or innocence of the U.S. president. And for the second time in our country's history, the nation's chief executive was found not guilty. Although the process was tainted with partisanship, the Senate made the decision that was best for the country. Now Clinton must salvage what is left of his presidency, which has been tarnished by a Republican-led witch hunt.

The independent counsel was approved originally as an investigation into Clinton's Whitewater transactions. But it evolved into an open-ended inquiry into Clinton's character. Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr turned over every stone in pursuit of a skeleton inside the president's character, with more than $40 million supporting his quest. Last January, Starr found what he was searching for - a scandal that he hoped would bring the president down. Its content was sure to keep the public captivated, as it was smothered in sex, lies and videotape.

When the vote on articles of impeachment moved to the House, partisanship dominated the debates. The House's job was to set guidelines of impeachment that defined "High Crimes and Misdemeanors." The representatives did not do that. Giving evasive answers about a sexual relationship with an intern may be sleazy, but it is not a high crime. It was especially disappointing that the House vote was almost completely divided along party lines. The debates on the House floor were often uncivilized and inappropriate, focusing more on sex than perjury. Our 435 representatives played a partisan game with one of their most important constitutional responsibilities.

When the articles moved to the Senate, pundits nationwide speculated that the higher house of Congress would provide a more sophisticated and intellectual forum for debate on Clinton's - and the country's - future. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist was presiding over the trial, so it would be impossible for the senators to display the same irresponsible behavior as the representatives.

The Senate trial, however, was mostly dominated by partisan rhetoric and Sunday morning talk show appearances. Many of the procedural votes, including the decision to depose Monica Lewinsky, Vernon Jordan and Sidney Blumenthal, were approved due to Republican control in the Senate.

Ten Senate Republicans transcended party lines and cast not guilty votes on the first article, and five on the second article, for the good of the country, and they must be commended. If the Senate removed Clinton from office, the nation's economy, polity and morale would have suffered greatly. The Senate should remove a president or judge if the official's conduct threatens the safety or well being of the nation. Clinton's actions, however, did not harm the United States. They were dishonest and of poor character. With a war chest of more than $40 million, however, a lawyer could find skeletons in anybody's closet.

Now the Senate has decided, as a body, that Clinton's actions did not constitute removal from office. It is important to note that while two-thirds of the Senate must vote to remove Clinton from office, less than half of the senators voted that he was guilty on the first article, and exactly half on the second.

Clinton must attempt to move on with the presidency. He will forever be impeached by the House, so it will be difficult for him to have the same power he did before the representatives cast their thoughtless votes. But now it is time for the House, Senate and Clinton to work together and get back to governing the nation, which will be forever scarred by the partisan attack on our 42nd president.

- This staff editorial originally

ran in Friday afternoon's

special edition of the Daily.

02-15-99