Reaction to impeachment mixed, emotional
December 19, 1998
Web posted at: 7:14 p.m. EST (0014 GMT)
WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, December 19) -- The woman at the center of the impeachment imbroglio, Monica Lewinsky, had no comment after the House approved two articles of impeachment Saturday afternoon. But among the rest of her fellow Americans -- both among the general public and in the political class -- opinion was emotional and mixed.
Here is a sample:
"It's a hard thing to let people get away with perjury, but nine out of 10 in Congress have done the same thing." -- Mike Northern, 57, in President Bill Clinton's boyhood home of Hot Springs, Arkansas.
"I just wish he would resign, because this just makes him look bad, and he's not. It's kinda sad." -- Wendy Boyce, 18, of Indianola, Iowa.
"They aren't listening to us. Republicans have been out to get Clinton since he was first elected." -- Gary Owens, 54, a factory worker in Columbia, Missouri.
"The impeachment resolution is irreparably poisoned by the vindictive partisanship of the House Republican extremists. They trampled basic rules of fairness by denying members the right to vote for censure." -- Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Massachusetts).
"Some way or other, he's gotta pay for his lying. I don't see if he's the president or a bum -- you lie in front of a grand jury, by gee, you've got to pay for it." -- Glenn Vaagen, a rancher from Taylor, North Dakota.
"If he got impeached, nations outside the United States ... would lose a lot of respect for this country. Who's the man or woman who represents the country the most? How do you not lose respect?" -- Lou Russo, salesman at a Sears store in Enfield, Connecticut.
"Get on with the man doing his job, get on with us doing our job in Iraq. I'm not defending the man. He was wrong and needs to be punished. But at this particular moment, we need to get to matters at hand." -- Jim Hodges Jr., of Houston.
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Across the U.S., citizens speak out about their president's impeachment
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"The House of Representatives' decision to impeach President Clinton must not be regarded as a victory for any person or group, but rather a somber triumph of upholding the rule of law." -- Randy Tate, executive director of the Christian Coalition.
"I never thought I would be in favor of impeachment, but now I think it's the right thing to do. It's best to just get it over with at this point." -- Nick Bourbin, 31, of New York.
"I think it's the Democrats who have turned this into a tragedy by the way they're defending Clinton. I think the Democrats are standing on the deck of a sinking ship." -- Bob Petkun, 52, of Vancouver, Washington.
"I guess Gore is looking better all the time." -- David Peter, 29, of Orlando, Florida, while watching the New York Jets-Buffalo Bills game.
"He's got to keep fighting -- keep fighting until he can't fight any longer." -- Rachel Weintraub, 25, of New York.
"Today's vote is about whether we will have one set of laws for the rulers and one for the ruled, one for the commander and another for the men and women he commands and who are now risking their lives in combat." -- Jim Nicholson, chairman of the Republican National Committee.
"Resign. This vote is not the problem. The problem is that he has lost our respect." -- Samuel Lamptey, an airline employee in Newark, New Jersey.
"I just can't believe it. It's like a tornado. It's just sucking everybody down." -- Bowen Garrett of Washington, D.C.
"The politics of division must end, and some say the best way for that to happen is for the president to resign. Nothing could be more wrong. To allow a band of right-wing partisans to hound from office the president we elected would subvert our democracy and our Constitution." -- John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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| AllPolitics' in-depth look at the investigation into the president's relationship with Monica Lewinsky.
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| HEADLINES |
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Starr puts first lady on witness list for Hubbell trial (6-23-99)
Hatch demands conclusion to Justice probe of Starr (6-17-99)
Starr: Independent Counsel Act should not be renewed (4-14-99)
Clinton's contempt citation not a surprise to many (4-13-99)
MORE HEADLINES and 1998 ARCHIVES |
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| DOCUMENTS |
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Closed-door statements of senators
Full text of the articles of impeachment
Starr report or use the interactive guide
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| INTERACTIVE |
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Acquittal Reaction
Timeline
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| PLAYERS |
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Cast of characters
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| 'TOONS |
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Bill Mitchell: Thank you sir, may I have another? (8-20-99) more
More impeachment toons
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| DISCUSSION |
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Message Board: Independent counsel
Voter's voice
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| IMPEACHMENT VOTE |
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Article I: Perjury before Grand Jury
Approved 228 - 206, roll call
• For: 223 Republicans, 5 Democrats
Against: 200 Democrats, 5 Republicans, 1 Independent
1 Dem not voting
Article III: Obstruction of justice related to Jones case
Approved 221 - 212, roll call
• For: 216 Republicans, 5 Democrats
Against: 199 Democrats, 12 Republicans, 1 Independent
2 Dems not voting
Article II: Perjury in Paula Jones case
Rejected 229 - 205, roll call
• Against: 200 Democrats, 28 Republicans, 1 Independent
For: 200 Republicans, 5 Democrats
1 Dem not voting
Article IV: Abuse of high office
Rejected 285 - 148, roll call
• Against: 203 Democrats, 81 Republicans, 1 Independent
For: 147 Republicans, 1 Democrats
2 Dems not voting
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