February 11, 1999
Web posted at: 5:42 p.m. EST (2242 GMT)

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, February 11) -- Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott said Thursday he found a New York Times report that President Bill Clinton will work to defeat his political foes in the House in 2000 "deeply troubling."

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott

"It is deeply troubling that the president views closure of this constitutional process as an opportunity for revenge," Lott (R-Mississippi) said.

According to the Times report, a Clinton adviser said the president is so angry with House Republicans over his impeachment, he has vowed to work to defeat his foes in the 2000 election and help the Democrats win back the House.

White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart dismissed the report, saying, "We're a little bit smarter than that."

"I can't think of a worse, more dumb strategy than going after people based on whether they were a House manager or not," Lockhart said. "You look at the House managers and the vast majority are in safe seats or unopposed seats. We're going to go out, do the best that we can at articulating a message, and do it based on where we can win seats."

Thirteen House Republicans served as managers, or prosecutors, during the public portion of Clinton's Senate trial.

Rep. Christopher Cannon

Clinton's schedule already includes fund-raising events in nine cities.

Rep. Christopher Cannon, one of the House prosecutors, reacted to the Times report with anger.

"The president of the United States, arguably the most powerful man in the world, has declared a personal vendetta against the House managers stating his will to single them out for political destruction," Cannon said.

"This is the height of arrogance, the height of the arrogance of power, especially considering the strong language with which members of his own party are currently seeking to condemn his actions," said the Utah Republican.

Thursday, February 11, 1999

• Final impeachment votes set for Friday
• Clinton, Lott and the revenge factor
• Sen. Hatch wants to know source of anti-Starr leaks
• Excerpts of senators' public comments on impeachment
• Reno avoids comment on reports of Starr probe
• House prosecutors blame public opinion
• More GOP leaders ask Bush to run
• Welfare recipients may help 2000 census
• Longtime Boy Scout quits over Clinton award

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