TRIAL OF THE PRESIDENT
The Michigan Daily - Friday, February 12, 1999 - III
"There was no way it should
ue gone this far. I'm not
ing he's right, but this
should be just between him and
Hikry."'
- Amani Brown, former vice
president, Black Greek Association
"I feel they have spent too
much money on this trial. We
need to get on with the busi-
ness of running this country."
- Sharon Newtonglenn, president,
Ypsilanti -Willow Run branch, NAACP
"The vote was the right
result, but not the real issue.
The real issue is what to think
about what has to happen to the
character of the presidency."
- Lee Bollinger, University president
"It was a historical anachro-
nism. It will have no lasting
effect."
- Hon. Avern Cohn, U.S. District
Court
"In the end, it amazingly shows
that our system works. You
don't hear anyone defend the
president's actions, but the case
was not made that he should be
removed from office."
- Chris Kolb, Ann Arbor City
Council member
Iaculty
dissects
acquittal
decision
0
By Nick Bankisy
Daiy Staff Reporters
As televisions and radios across cam-
pus broadcast the Senate vote determin-
ing the fate of President Clinton,
University faculty members expressed
similar reactions to the acquittal, which
political science Prof. Vincent Hutchings
med "a vindication."
Although the result of the Senate vote
came through as expected, Hutchings
said it was the final vote tally that piqued
his interest.
"I think that this is quite a blow to the
House managers, the fact that they could-
n't even muster a simple majority in the
Senate," Hutchings said. "It gave the vote
a taint of illegitimacy."
After the House of Representatives
voted to send the impeachment matter to
opposite end of the Capitol Building
Dec. 19, Hutchings said the fact that
fewer than half of the 100 senators voted
against the first impeachment article
"shows that these charges were baseless
to begin with."
History Prof. Sidney Fine said sena-
tors did not convict Clinton because his
wrongdoing did not exceed the standards
for impeachable offenses.
"The misdeeds of the president did not
.Oto the levels of high crimes and mis-
demeanors specified in the Constitution,"
Fine said. "I think it was the correct deci-
sion."
Both Fine and Law Prof. Sam Gross
said the greatest uncertainty was not
whether he would be acquitted, but how
close the vote would be.
Christina Fastnow, a visiting assistant
political science professor, said that
although senators voted almost exclu-
ely along party lines, she believes they
h made the choice they felt was cor-
rect.
"I think the senators genuinely went in
with an open mind," Fastnow said. "I
A House divided
prepares for a
return to normal
Reps. speak of need to cooperate
DANA IUNNANE/Daily
Joel Hass, LSA first-year student, and Pat Pranke, a graduate student, watch the
trial's verdict at the Michigan Union today.
don't think on either side of the aisle that
they voted strictly for how their party
thought they should."
Gross said the Republican party and
its leaders look terrible as a result of this
trial, and "the big question is how quick-
ly will people forget about this?"
If the public is getting tired of being
bombarded by the impeachment,
Hutchings said, they should brace for
more of the same in the future.
"I suspect that this will be reverberat-
ing up until November 2000,' Hutchings
said.
Fastnow said it would be in
Congress' best interests to move on to
more pressing issues, like the nation-
al budget.
"I think both sides are going to be try-
ing to put this behind them as quickly as
possible; Fastnow said. "My sense is
that -they want to be remembered as a
policy Congress and not an impeachment
Congress."
Anthony Collings, a visiting commu-
nications professor and former Supreme
Court reporter for CNN, said the image
of senators stoically declaring "guilty" or
"not guilty" before Chief Justice William
Rehnquist will remain in the public's
mind for a long time to come.
"Obviously this gives a sense of histo-
ry to it," Collings said.
Despite its place in the annals of histo-
ry, Collings said he noticed a missing ele-
ment in Washington, D.C. this morning
- crowds of people.
"There seemed to be a lack of interest
on the day of the actual vote itself"
Collings said.
Law Prof. Eric Bilsky said nothing
positive came from the past few months
of political turmoil.
"It is good for the country that
President Clinton was not convicted.
That is the only thing that is good for the
country about this process;" Bilsky said.
"Politicians should be addressing the
many problems our country faces rang-
ing from homelessness to racial discrim-
ination to the global environmental crisis,
yet our politicians distract themselves in
sorted sex scandals and political gains-
manship"
By Michael Grass
Daily Staff Reporter
In the wake of the acquittal of
President Clinton in the Senate
impeachment trial earlier today,
many members of the House of
Representatives said they are ready
to get back to business.
"For the majority of us, we want to
get the focus back to where it should
be," Rep. Debbie Stabenow (D-
Lansing) said even before today's
votes.
While Republicans and Democrats
in the House often didn't see eye-to-
eye during the impeachment proceed-
ings, House members said they must
now work in a bi-partisan manner.
But Stabenow added that since
censure was not an option during the
impeachment proceedings, many
Democrats are still upset - con-
tributing to the tensions between the
two parties.
"It's been a partisan witch hunt in
the House and it's been a partisan
witch hunt in the Senate," said Rep.
Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick (D-
Detroit).
Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-Holland)
said he and Congressman Barney
Frank (D-Mass.), who both sit on the
prison industry committee, were on
opposite ends of the spectrum during
the impeachment proceedings, "but
when it comes to prison industries,
we have to work together."
Members of the House said to
work on current issues, Republicans
and Democrats must cooperate.
"I'm going to do everything in my
power to work across party lines,"
Stabenow said. "People just want us
to get the job done."
Kilpatrick said the House needs to
work on Social Security, Medicare
and education, among other issues.
"Every month that we don't protect
the future of Social Security is anoth-
er month that will make the solution
tougher," Stabenow said, "because
we need to deal with it sooner or
later."
Hoekstra said Speaker of the
House Dennis Hastert (R-1ll.) wants
to put the business of the impeach-
ment behind Congress and address
other issues, adding that Hastert has
expressed a desire for cooperation
between Capitol Hill and the White
House.
Although President Clinton has
been found not guilty under the two
articles of impeachment, Stabenow
said it's too early to know exactly
what the president's future holds. But
House members expressed confi-
dence that the impeachment trial has
not diminished Clinton's power..
"As long he is in the White House
he will be' a relevant player,"
Hoekstra said.
"One thing we've all seen about
Bill Clinton is that he's a fighter,"
said Ray Plowden, chief of staff for
Rep. John Conyers (D-Detroit).
But Stabenow said one of the
results of the impeachment proceed-
ings is that "the threshold of what is
considered an impeachable offense"
has been lowered.
Plowden said the acquittal in the
Senate "is a vindication to those in
the House that said these were not
impeachable offenses."
The House is "finally waking up to
the fact that the American public
number one did not want him
impeached and number two did not
want removed from office" Plowden
said.
House members said their con-
stituents want them to move away
from the saga of the past few months
and continue with the business of the
nation.
"I think we will rise to the occasion
to get the job done because that is
what the people expect of us,"
Kilpatrick said.
"We ought to get back to business,"
Hoekstra said.
Congresswoman Lynn Rivers (D-
Ann Arbor), whose district includes
the University, could not be reached
for comment this afternoon.
- Daily Staff Reporter Nick Bunkley
contributed to this report.
"I'm happy he was acquitted. I
thought the whole impeach-
ment thing was ridiculous."
- Jenny Shalifoe, LSA senior
"I'm sorry the whole thing
happened in the first place. It
seemed to me that the same
people pursuing him from the
day he was elected were simply
carrying on the camp with
better ammunition. I hope this
puts an end to it and that we
can get on with the world."
- Arthur Miller, American playwright
and University alum
"I think if someone else had
been asked about his personal
life, then he would have prob-
lems with it, too. It's between
him and his wife."
- Tiffany Brown, LSA junior
"I did not believe that removal
from office would have been
best for the country. I also
don't believe that letting him
off without any punishment is
right, either."
-- Adam Silver, president, College
Republicans
"I don't think it has really
taught him anything except
that he can do things like this
and get away with it."
- Meghan Drummond, LSA junior
"What else has he
that's been wrong,
lied about?"
told us
that he's
Acquittal will allow Clinton to finish term
CLI NTON
tinued from Page I
Fhe votes were broadcast by the networks to a nation long
since weary of the proceedings. Ms. Lewinsky, who testified
earlier this month by videotape, watched on television,
according to associates.
Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle said Clinton's
acquittal should not be seen as vindication for his behavior.
"This was a rebuke. There is no question,' Daschle said of the
impeachment.
In defeat, the lead House prosecutor said his team had
nothing to be ashamed of, rejecting any idea that the GOP
House's effort - which proceeded despite public opposition
*tarnished its credibility. "All Americans can take great
comfort," Rep Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), said. "Congress has
strengthened, not weakened the ties that bind our nation
together"
After the vote, the second and third floors of the Senate
side of the Capitol were evacuated by police checking a bomb
threat, officials said.
Senators ended two final hours of closed door debate on
Clinton's transgressions this morning shortly before noon.
"Senators, how say you? Is respondent William Jefferson,
' inton guilty or not guilty?" Rehnquist asked a hushed
mber, beginning the vote.
One by one, senators rose from their seats and declared
"guilty" or "not guilty."
The Republicans who voted against conviction on perjury
were Slade Gorton of Washington, Susan Collins and
Olympia Snowe of Maine, John Chafee of Rhode Island,
James Jeffords of Vermont, Richard Shelby of Alabama,
Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, Ted Stevens of Alaska, Fred
Thompson of Tennessee and John Warner of Virginia.
GOP senators opposing the obstruction article were:
- Collins, Chafee, Jeffords, Snowe and Specter.
..enators on both sides relished the opportunity to end the
pular trial and get back to legislative business after a
mid-February break. "I really think the Senate will be able to
work better because of this" Lott said.
The president's legal team was also relieved. They left the
White House shortly after the verdict to have dinner together
at a restaurant.
Several key Democrats said they do not want the Senate to
discuss censuring Clinton after the return from the break. "I
don't want to go back into it. It's over. Let's move on," Sen.
John Kerry (D-Mass.), said. Added Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-
"I don't think censure will come back. It's time to stop
the censuring, stop the debating."
Many Americans were just as relieved that the impeach-
ment crisis with its tawdry tale of sex and lies was finally
over.
"Hallelujah. We have to get on with our lives," Margit Noro
of Harrisburg, Pa., declared.
"He's had a decent presidency ... but this is going to over-
Levin, Abraham in
opposition over vote
AP PHOTO
President Clinton heads to the Rose Garden today after the
Senate acquitted him of perjury and obstruction of justice.
man"
. House managers exited the chamber, shaking hands with
senators of both parties.
Even with the inevitable acquittal, senators wanted the
public to know they abhorred the president's conduct in con-
cealing his affair with Ms. Lewinsky.
"While it may not be a crime, he exploited a very young,
star-struck employee whom he then proceeded to smear in an
attempt to destroy her credibility, her reputation, her life"
said Sen. Collins.
Clinton is not free from troubles: He could face indictment,
while in office or after his term, by Independent Counsel
Kenneth Starr, and must finish his remaining months in
office facing a GOP-controlled Congress that wanted him
evicted from the White House.
The trial featured for the first time videotaped testimony
on the Senate floor and provided the world its first good look
at Ms. Lewinsky, the former White House intern. A national
TV audience was able to watch as 13 House impeachment
managers, all Republicans, argued that Clinton deserved to
be thrown out of office, while White House lawyers said he
should not.
Throughout the impeachment proceedings, opinion polls
showed that most of the public gave Clinton low marks for
personal trust and morality - and were repulsed when
Clinton's now-famous televised, finger-wagging assertion, "I
SENATORS
Continued from Page I
the basis of the evidence, not the pres-
sures of his party.
"I tried to do my best for the people
of Michigan, not as a Republican, but
as an American," he said in the state-
ment.
Abraham's statement also recognized
the many constituents who urged him to
vote against conviction even though
they felt the President was guilty. But
he said the oath he swore to when he
took office would not allow him to con-
sider these views when making his
decision. -
"How can we expect ordinary citi-
zens in Detroit, Grand Rapids or
Escanaba to accept that the President'
can stay in office after committing
these crimes, but it is still their duty to
obey the law and tell the truth,;
Abraham asked, adding that not punish-
ing the President for breaking the law
sends a poor message to citizens.
Ed Sarpolous, vice president of the
Lansing-based polling firm
EPIC/MRA, said Abraham's vote may
impact his reelection bid in the year
2000. Polling data showed Abraham
leading former Governor James
Blanchard 42-39 percent before the
vote.
"There's a group of people who
would hold Abraham's vote against
him," Sarpolous said. "If Abraham
voted guilty, the poll showed a shift in
support to 48-41 Blanchard over
Abraham."
- Troy Nolan, Rackham gradutate
student
"He was definitely guilty."
- Matt Aageson, LSA senior
"I think he should have been
acquitted, because I don't think
a president should be kicked
out of office for his personal
life. What he does for this
country - his political actions
- are more important. That
ultimately affects this country,
as oppsed to the scandal people
are watching."
- Leon Chang, president, Asian
American Association and Business
junior
"I'm more concerned with the
issues that are going on outside
of the impeachment process. I
think Clinton's personal life is
his personal life and I don't
think he should have been
impeached."
- Faris Albayya, Medical school
staff
"It was politics, pure and sim-
ple. It was an attempt to coup
d'etat that failed."
- John Minock, partner, Cramer,
Minock and Gallagher, P.L.C.
"This is a very political issue in
Washington. There's very little
relevance to what I see every
day."
- Hon. Archie Brown, 15th District
Court
"A lot of it has been a waste as
you look back on it now, but I
think the process was impor-
tant."
STUDENTS
Continued from Page I
Sitting just beneath the dining hall's
television, LSA sophomore David
Greenbaum, along with several other
students, watched the scene in
Washington, D.C.
"It would have been the right thing to
convict him," Greenbaum said. "But it'
was the right thing for the country to
keep him in office."
Art and Design first-year student Kim
Walter said she wasn't wrapped up in
watching the Senate's decision today
because she never doubted Clinton's
abilities to run the office of the presi-
dent.
Walter's view, saying Clinton misused
his position as president.
"The issue is that he lied to the
American public" LSA first-year stu-
dent Jennifer Roosa said.
"He's been a liar and a typical politi-
cian his whole life," said LSA first-year
student Karen Lynn. "I think it finally
caught up with him."
Many students said they were just
glad the scandal was over
"It was a forgone conclusion," LSA
seniorTad Polley said. "It was a waste of
money and resources and a distraction
from other things the legislature should
be doing."
Law sophomore Mike Kagan had an
opinion similar to Polley's. Regardless of