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Clinton: Playing the Game the Way He Always Has
7/27/1998

Congressman Bob Barr

Terry Lenzner, known for his no-holds barred tactics, has been hired by the Clinton defense team to dig up dirt on anyone critical of the President. Lenzener's firm played a lead role in the effort to smear two of our nation's leading conservative jurists, Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas, during their Senate confirmation hearings.

Lenzner has visited the White House a half dozen times. On one visit, he met with Deputy Chief of Staff Harold Ickes who, amazingly enough, has once again been rendered unable to remember what was discussed. His hit list, according to a former employee, could include the independent counsel, federal prosecutors, and members of the Judiciary Committee

The attempt to muzzle critics doesn't end with sending investigators out to dig dirt. White House staff -- on taxpayer time, paid for with citizens' tax dollars, and under the supervision of Hillary Clinton -- have worked to silence investigative reporters at such publications as The Washington Post who have gotten too close to the truth. Susan Schmidt, the lead Whitewater reporter for the Post, was the target of a critical report prepared by White House lawyers at the insistence of Hillary Clinton. When he learned of this tactic, even White House Press Secretary Mike McCurry admitted it was "the dumbest idea I've ever heard in my life."

These tactics -- trying to silence the press, drawing up enemies lists, and looking for dirt on opponents -- are not the actions of an innocent man with nothing to hide. Nor are they the actions of the President of a free society that places a high premium on civil liberties.

The actions of the President, his wife, and many of their associates are more reminiscent of a third world dictator than of the leader of a free republic. However, the greatest tragedy has not yet occurred. If these abuses go unpunished, succeeding generations of politicians will follow Clinton's example and push the bounds of ethics and law much further into an ethical abyss than he has.

However, there may be a positive side to all this. As Lady Margaret Thatcher put it, when your opponents start slinging mud, you should take heart, because it is a clear signal that they have run out of rational arguments. Bill Clinton knows the truth is knocking on his door. He's trying to keep it out the only way he knows how. We must ensure he fails in this effort. The very survival of our Republic is at stake.