UA students largely fed up with continuing Clinton scandal

Some University of Arizona students disapproved yesterday of the public release of Clinton's grand jury testimony, which hit Tucson televisions unedited shortly before 6:30 a.m.

"We already know from the Starr report what went on - we don't need to see it," said Robert Wiruth, a biochemistry junior.

The videotaped testimony before Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr's grand jury consists of hours of Clinton's responses to questions about his self-described "inappropriate" relationship with Monica Lewinsky, a former White House intern.

Clinton read a statement early in the testimony describing his relationship with Lewinsky as involving ''sexual banter'' and ''intimate contact'' but refused to elaborate on the relationship as prosecutors pressed for more.

"It's his personal life. No one should know about it," said Andrew Ureta, a computer science senior. "It should be known he screwed up, but not like a big circus."

Starr's prosecuting attorneys grilled the president about the sexual details of his relationship and his alleged attempts to cover it up, including lying during his deposition in Paula Jones' sexual-harrassment suit against him. The evidence released yesterday is the basis of Starr's case for 11 possible impeachable offenses against the president.

Students seemed more concerned with Clinton's alleged lies under oath than his relationship with Lewinsky.

Wiruth said Clinton should resign in the wake of the scandal.

"It's not a matter of what he did (with Lewinsky), it's that he lied to the people - the president should be a better American," he said.

Political science senior Rick Hofsheier said Clinton's alleged lies could reduce his effective power as president.

"He (Clinton) is a lame duck - Congress members think so and they're not going to take his word anymore," he said.

But Clinton's presidential career is unlikely to end in impeachment, according to UA political scientists.

Unless public opinion drastically changes as a result of the televised release of Clinton's grand jury testimony, the Senate will not have enough votes to impeach the president, said UA political science professor Jerry Rusk.

And the public isn't likely to drastically change its stance, Rusk said.

In the next week or two, the president's approval ratings may decline slightly, but 55 to 70 percent of Americans will continue to support Clinton's presidential actions, Rusk predicted.

By releasing the tapes, the pro-impeachment sector of Congress, mainly Republicans, is making a case against Clinton, said UA political science professor John Garcia. But the release is as likely to draw sympathy for Clinton as it is to turn the public against him, he said.

"There is a sentiment among some people about the appropriateness of this (publicizing Clinton's testimony) - and a question about how much the people need to know or want to know," Garcia said.

On the tape, Clinton appeared angered by prosecutors' questions and denounced the way the Jones lawsuit precipitated Starr's investigation of the Lewinsky matter.

The evidence released yesterday includes Lewinsky's testimony to the grand jury, in which she called the president her ''sexual soulmate'' and explained her frustration that the president hadn't taken their sexual activity further.

Garcia said the testimony is being made public at an opportune moment for the pro-impeachment members of Congress. Recess is only a week away, which gives politicians time to see where the public stands.

"Actions taken by Congress are more politically than legally motivated," Garcia said. "The decision to impeach is politically motivated."

While approval ratings have remained high for Clinton, the percentage of the public that thinks Clinton should resign has gone up in the past week, Garcia said. Although Clinton does not want to resign, he may have little choice if the public demands it, he said.

"He (Clinton) is fighting for his job and his place in history," Garcia said. "But if people want him to resign, it doesn't just affect him, but it affects the future of the Democratic party."

The House may have enough votes to pass articles of impeachment, but the Senate will not muster up the two-thirds vote it needs to oust the president, said political science lecturer Peter Goudinoff.

"Moderate Republicans from districts in the Northeast will get cold feet," Goudinoff said. "They are all watching public opinion."

There was a change in the nature of the presidency when the Paula Jones case was allowed to proceed, Goudinoff said. The sexual scandal surrounding Clinton's career, "has been a diminution of the power of the presidency," he said.

But some UA students did not see how Clinton's private affairs will affect his job performance.

"I really don't think any of this is anyone's business," said ecology and evolutionary biology junior Karen Byrns. "He's been a very effective president. If he was forced to resign over something like this, it would be ridiculous."

Tami Meyers, an undeclared freshman, compared Clinton's experience to former President Richard Nixon's Watergate scandal. While she disapproved of Clinton's relationship with Lewinsky, Meyers did not think the president should resign.

"Whereas Nixon withheld important information - to the country, Clinton's personal affairs don't affect his role in office," Meyers said.

Goudinoff said the Clinton-Lewinsky relationship would not get public attention if the United States was not so economically and politically stable.

"This kind of a scandal is a luxury that we can afford," he said. "There is no challenge to America anywhere in the world - economically or politically."

Sarah Spivack can be reached via e-mail at Sarah.Spivack@wildcat.arizona.edu.