Badge of Shame

Mr. Clinton was recently interviewed about things relating to his new book. Among the things he discussed was his impeachment and the following trial. He is quoted as saying that he considers his fight against the impeachment trial as "a badge of honor." He goes on, "I don't see it as a stain, because it (the impeachment process) was illegitimate." He added that the process was an abuse of power.

Illegitimate? Now, I may agree that the Republicans were a bit zealous with their pursuit, but Mr. Clinton did commit an impeachable offense (perjury) and under the constitution, Congress has the right to draft articles when the President commits such acts. One might argue that the first impeached president, Andrew Johnson, also did not really deserve his impeachment and it was a case of an over zealous Republican Congress getting after a Democratic president. But history doesn't make that argument. They note that Andrew Johnson was impeached for abuse of power. He was not convicted though and neither was Mr. Clinton.

It may have been mostly partisan politics, but Mr. Clinton should not whine about how he was the victim in the whole affair. He is the one who first committed the affair and then elected to commit perjury during the Jones deposition. If you want to avoid situations like this, jut don't do it in the first place. As a society, we rely too much on doing things we shouldn't do and then make up excuses and avoidances after we are caught. The upcoming months regarding the Kobe Bryant trial are going to be perfect examples.

You're like the thief who has no remorse about doing the deed, but a great deal of remorse about being caught. -Rhett Butler