Hang 'Em High by NHARS BENDIR Friday October 2, 1998 In the screwy world of American politics, there is a very real possibility that it will be the Republicans who get hanged and not Bill Clinton. Worse, even as they climb the gallows they will be scratching their pointy heads wondering what happened. To everyone else the answer is clear: the GOP blew it. After the President's August confession, snap polls showed surprising support for Clinton. Even after the release of his videotaped grand jury testimony, polls showed the public's increasing distaste for the entire business. While Democrats cheered Clinton's remarkable resilience Republicans dismissed the numbers as further proof of the news media's liberal bias. After all, everyone knows the TV networks design surveys for intended results.

Jump to the FRONT PAGE of... Also, don't miss our "Guide to the Monica Lewinsky Story" for complete coverage of Kenneth's Starr's investigation of President Clinton. .

Make no mistake: the public was truly hurt by Clinton's lies and stung by his sexual antics in the White House. But the public also grows increasingly disgusted with the whole sordid business.They are watching how the House conducts itself. Sadly, voters who had hoped for dignity, fairness and decorum have instead seen political greed and little else. Most egregious is releasing all that evidence. It is one thing to publish the Starr report; it is quite another to publish excerpts from grand jury testimony. Grand jury testimony is secret. By publishing it, therefore, the GOP's motives are suspect. GOP: It would have leaked from Starr's office anyway. One thirty-minute trip to the woodshed can fix that problem. GOP: The public has a right to know. An empty argument given the law. GOP: Congress must pursue the truth wherever it leads. To what end -- justice or political gain? GOP: What about Whitewater? Filegate? Travelgate? If Starr hasn't proved crimes by now, he won't later. A lengthy impeachment inquiry would be a mistake. It would last for months, cost taxpayers a fortune in needless expense and prove what is already known. Thus Republicans will be seen spending more time defending their decision while Clinton doggedly goes about the business of the Presidency. There is much important work that goes unattended so long as Congressional Republicans remain infatuated with the Lewinsky scandal. Voters will understandably conclude that what Clinton did is far less serious than what the Republicans are about to do. Get the rope.

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