Clinton wins, GOP and public lose in impeachment saga, poll finds

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, February 14) -- Now that the Senate impeachment trial is finally over, who does the public think were the winners and losers of the yearlong saga?

According to the results of the latest CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll of 1,034 adult Americans, conducted February 12 and 13, 58 percent say President Bill Clinton came out a winner, although most Americans also say that the Senate's decision to acquit him does not vindicate him.

Most Americans also say that first lady Hillary Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and the Democrats in Congress were winners. Also winners were the Constitution and future presidents.

The losers? Independent Counsel Ken Starr and congressional Republicans top the list. And the American public thinks it was a loser in the whole impeachment process, with about three-quarters saying the process has harmed the country. Nevertheless, two-thirds approve of the outcome, and 59 percent describe themselves as pleased or delighted with the Senate verdict.

Congress' approval rating has dropped. But although Clinton's approval rating remains high, only 35 percent have a positive view of him as a person, and 54 percent believe that if Clinton knew he could commit adultery and get away with it, he would do so. Some 59 percent say he has lowered the stature of the presidency, but 57 percent believe he was sincere when he said Friday that he was "profoundly sorry."

Now that the impeachment trial is over, what should happen next? Only 30 percent say Clinton should be charged with a crime while in office, and only 39 percent believe he should be charged with a crime after he leaves the White House. Just 36 percent favor an investigation into charges that some Clinton aides may have lied under oath about facts in the Monica Lewinsky matter. The public also does not believe that Attorney General Janet Reno should fire Starr.

As for censure, when offered a choice between a Senate debate on a censure motion and dropping the matter entirely, only a quarter of poll respondents say they want to see the Senate take up a censure resolution.

The following are the questions and results, which had a sampling error of plus or minus 3 percent:

Winners in the impeachment process:

Losers in the impeachment process:

Has impeachment process been harmful to the country?

Your reaction to the Senate's decision to acquit Clinton:

Do you approve of the decision to acquit Clinton?

Does acquittal vindicate Clinton?

Approve of the way Clinton is handling his job:

How is Congress handling its job?

Should Clinton be indicted while he is in office?

Should Clinton be indicted after he leaves office?

Should charges that Clinton aides lied under oath be investigated?

Should Attorney General Janet Reno fire Independent Counsel Ken Starr?

The Senate should...

Are you interested in seeing Monica Lewinsky on TV?

Opinion of Clinton as a person:

Has Clinton lowered the stature of the presidency?

Would Clinton commit adultery if he knew he could get away with it?

Do you think Clinton is sincerely sorry?

Are you confident Clinton and Congress can work together?

Who is to blame if Clinton and Congress don't work together?

Sunday, February 14, 1999

• Clinton wins, GOP and public lose in impeachment saga, poll finds
• Chorus in Congress urging Starr not to indict Clinton
• Transcripts give glimpses of closed Senate debate
• New York governor says GOP doing too much 'gnashing of teeth'
• Kasich announces plans for presidential candidacy

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