IF LOTT HADN'T CAVED, WHAT WOULD JUANITA HAVE SAID ON NATIONAL TELEVISION?

dfu | 12-2002 | dfu

[doug from upland]

Imagine this scene on national television in the United States Senate:

Prosecutor: And so, Mrs. Broaddrick, you have read the transcript of Bill Clinton's testimony, have you not?

JB: Yes, I have.

Prosecutor: According to his testimony, Mr. Clinton said that he has never sexually harassed a woman. Do you see that part?

JB: Yes, I do.

Prosecutor: Do you have any information that would contradict Mr. Clinton's testimony.

JB (crying into a handkerchief): Yes, I do. Approximately 20 years ago, while I was working as a volunteer for Mr. Clinton's first campaign for governor of Arkansas, he appeared at a nursing home convention I attended in Little Rock. He offered to meet with me to give me come help with my business. (crying)

Prosecutor: Yes, go on.

JB: We were supposed to meet in the coffee shop, but he said it was too busy and noisy, and we wouldn't have the opportunity to talk. So, he called me and suggested that we meet in my room.

Prosecutor: And you agreed to meet in the room?

JB: Yes. And it is a decision I have regretted. I wondered about it but thought to myself -- Well, it must be okay to meet with him. He is the attorney general.

Prosecutor: Please describe what happened.

JB: After a few minutes he tried to kiss me. I pushed him away and said no. He would not take no for an answer. He threw me on the bed, (crying)…………. he ripped my clothes (crying)…………he viciously bit my lip to control me (crying)………….and he sexually assaulted me. He raped me. (crying)

Prosecutor: So, when Mr. Clinton testified under oath that he has never sexually harassed a woman, do you believe he lied?

JB: Yes, he lied. A brutal rape is certainly sexually harassment taken to the worst level. (crying)

Prosecutor: Mrs. Broaddrick, the defenders of Mr. Clinton have referenced an affidavit in which you told a different story. Will you explain that?

JB: I am so sorry I did that. An affidavit came to me that was sent from an attorney representing the White House. I signed the affidavit because I mistakenly believed the Jones case would just end and this horrible thing that happened to me would stay buried. I did not want to re-live it in public and re-live the pain. I just wanted it to go away. I mistakenly believed that I would never have to testify if I signed the affidavit. It was a horrible decision. (crying)

Prosecutor: Are you telling the truth now?

JB: Absolutely. My son, who is an attorney, warned me that I had made a mistake with the affidavit. He understood the pain and knew why I did it, but told me it was a mistake. I had to tell the truth before the Grand Jury. I have told the truth. It has been horrible. (crying)

Prosecutor: Mrs. Broaddrick, why didn't you do something about the rape at the time?

JB: What could I have done? It was 1979. It was the South. It was Arkansas, a one-party state. It was the Attorney General. Who was going to believe me? I thought someone was going to come into the room and do away with the body. (crying)

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Juanita's testimony before the U.S. Senate on national television would have been powerful. It went directly to Clinton lying under oath about never sexually harassing a woman. Her testimony would have been followed by a crying Kathleen Willey. It could have been followed by testimony of women who had affairs with Clinton and then were given government jobs --- something also about which he committed perjury.

What would the press have done with this testimony? Is it just about sex? No, it was about rape. NOW would have been forced to comment.

Why didn't she get to testify? Trent Lott. That is why I have such a problem with our so-called Senate leader. He can't even lead his own mouth. But I don't want him gone under trumped up charges by the RATS. He said stupid things. He went along with the prevailing culture regarding integrating his fraternity 40 years ago. But I don't believe he has led his public life as a racist.

[Tall_Texan]

Shouldn't your screen name be "ChinaGotTheGoodsFROMClinton"?

[okie01]

"That's a lot of "if's" to put the name "coward" on!"

Let's try it this way then: What was the right thing to do? What did the Constitution specifically call for? And what did Lott do?

Expedience is a first cousin to cowardice. And, if my life experience is any guide, expedience almost never works in the long run.

[okie01]

"Can you imagine the impact of at least one Clinton rape victim crying and speaking to America on national television?"

I can tell you this. After Juanita's interview with Lisa Myers ran on NBC, my sister and my mother both changed their registration from Democrat to Independent (they would never be Republicans).

They believed Juanita. And my social worker sister, who is a card carrying bleeding heart liberal, felt totally betrayed by a man she had strongly supported.

My mother, a depression era New Deal Democrat, and less driven by idealism, voiced nothing but contempt for "that low-life SOB".

[Mr. K]

I always wonder why Clinton sent so many affidavits around to women to state he did not rape them...

[doug from upland]

Not enough people watched the interview. It was held back by NBC until after the vote and it was scheduled opposite an awards ceremony (I can't remember which one). The reaction you saw would have been repeated in millions of households. America should have had the opportunity to see all the evidence.