Clinton's Affair With Lewinsky example essay topic

News of an extramarital affair between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky during the 1995-96 period surfaced in January 1998. William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton is only the second president to have been impeached by the House of Representatives. While he was not removed from office, roughly half of the Senate chamber voted him guilty on the perjury and obstruction of justice charges that the House formulated as articles of impeachment in early February 1999. Although Clinton remained in office during that time, numerous politicians, political critics and media commentators continued to condemn his extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky while she was a White House intern as immoral and reprehensible. Why should have President Clinton been impeached? According to public opinion the fact that he lied under oath in a court of law should have required immediate removal for ANY president.

The example that the liberals set for the world and for young children by defending such an act is inexcusable. Alex Gian turco on web states that "his messy infidelities, his lying and deception, and his supposedly heartfelt apologies are all utterly irrelevant to what is truly important, the well being of the country as a whole. As the president, Clinton swore to protect and defend the Constitution and the nation itself. There is little doubt that he has violated that oath, and he has done so flagrantly". From the very outset of the scandal, a large majority of Americans perceived Clinton's behavior, including lying to conceal the affair, as immoral. "He lacks the moral character to be an effective president and is an embarrassment to the nation" according to John C. on web Count his scandals and relate them to the countless times the people suspected that he is either stretching the truth or outright lying; Whitewater, Jennifer Flowers, Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky, just to name a few.

Americans are concerned about the morality of the country if the people of this nation condone such an act. There is no such thing as the President having a private life. As Commander and Chief, the public views his life 24 hours a day. This position should be treated with the utmost of respect and not abused because of the power that comes with it. Citizens of the United States and even people around the world look up to and are watching the character and integrity of this leader.

Even our young children admire and would like to mimic the President. To set an example as an adulteress and a liar is not what the leader of our country should portray. Some would even put to mind if President Clinton can do it and get away with it, maybe I can too! Bill Clinton is a man with no morals or integrity who only cared about his self and power.

The office of the President is that of a servant of the Constitution and the nation it supports. The president lost his ability to lead due to this scandal and should be impeached for the good of the country. Why should have President Clinton remained in office? Even though Bill Clinton was the most publicly shamed president of modern time, and impeached by the House of Representatives for lying about the relationship to a grand jury, President Clinton was more popular than any contemporary president had ever been in the beginning of the sixth year of his presidency. From the spring of 1998 through the end of the impeachment trial, the public remained remarkably stable in its support of Clinton and its belief that he should not be removed from office.

Throughout the course of the scandal, the strong economy - considerably stronger than when Clinton took office in 1993 - shielded Clinton from public criticism. Most Americans enjoyed slightly higher income, lower mortgage payments, considerably higher values for their mutual funds and retirement savings, greater job security, and more buying power. Moreover, Americans were able to feel confident and secure for the first time in many years. Bill Clinton also communicated well with the American public. His ability to "feel the pain" of the average American helped him establish a rapport with the people that earned a cushion of goodwill.

The public came to view this scandal, at its heart, as a man lying about an extramarital affair. Although most Americans disapprove of extramarital affairs, many of them have engaged in them, and many more contemplated them. Almost all Americans who " ve had affairs lied about them, and those who contemplated them realized that they would lie about them. Thus, unlike lying about politics or the conduct of government, lying about sex is something that most Americans can understand and imagine themselves doing. Clinton's opponent was Kenneth Starr, whose handling of the investigation - held Lewinsky without her lawyer being present, forced her mother to testify against her, and allowed leaks from his office to the press - which undermined his legitimacy in the eyes of the public. By the fall of 1998 many of the people disapproved of Starr's methods.

Also, despite Monica Lewinsky's youth, few Americans sympathized with her or saw her as a victim. News of Lewinsky's previous affair with a married man, reports of her claim to friends that she was bringing her "presidential kneepad's" to Washington, and, perhaps a double standard about sexual affairs led many of the people to view her unfavorably. For many Americans, Clinton's affair with Lewinsky was a private matter of importance only to them and Hillary Clinton. This affair had nothing to do with his job performance. By defining this issue as personal, many Americans could condemn the behavior while supporting the president's policies. Americans also believe that many public officials had sexual affairs and lied about them, a belief that was confirmed by a spate of confessions by Republicans of their own sexual escapades.

People would prefer that their politicians not lie, however, they think that it would be easier to simply not invade their privacy. In my opinion Clinton should not have been removed from office because of an extramarital affair. If that's the case, most if not all of Congress should either resign or be impeached out of office. I do not condone that fact that Bill Clinton had an affair.

It was morally wrong before his wife and daughter, before the American people, and most important, before God. A person of strength, honesty, dignity and integrity should portray the role of the president. The fact that he lied under oath was not the smartest thing to do as well, but does not justify removal from office in this particular case. It had to be extremely humiliating to have lived through that period with all of the sorted details put in the public eye by his opponent, Kenneth Starr. This only confirms the scripture that says "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweto, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6: 7) or in other words you will not get away with the wrong that you do.

The nightmare of having his personal life thrown on television, newspapers, radios and the Internet was punishment enough not to mention the emotional strain he went through with his family. I hope that he has learned a valuable lesson behind this scandal as well as other onlookers who may be, or considering doing the same thing in public office. Everyone has a right to his or her privacy, but to much is given, much is required.