August 16, 2000
Mr. President - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- With his lower lip firmly on top of his upper lip, Bill Clinton soaked up the applause of his fellow Democrats - his fellow Americans. The man, who was fodder for so many jokes, so many careers was making his exit from the political apex of our world.
I’ve regarded Bill Clinton with much indifference. I was 10 years old in 1992 and even though I had minor political sense, I knew nothing of ideology or issues. I never thought of Bill Clinton as a good or bad leader. But with the emergence of Monica Lewinsky, I began having grave thoughts about the man. I had publicly called on him to resign, not for receiving a bill-job from the White House intern, but for the fact he did commit perjury under oath. A man elected to uphold the law of the land, is a man not elected to trivialise it with a plethora of semantics.
After watching the Republican convention a couple weeks ago and the first night of the Democratic Convention Monday night, I’ve felt a strong aura behind the mantle of POTUS (President of the United States.) The tributes that flowed to Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George Bush at the Republican show and to Jimmy Carter, Monday night, were affirmations not only from their respective political parties, but from the American people.
The job is tough. Besides having to govern over 200 million or so Americans from Long Beach to Long Island, goes the task of leading the “free world”. It’s really full of formalities like dumping your own house for digs at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, not to mention having your privacy shot when you have Secret Service crew hanging over you for the rest of your life.
Bill Clinton’s presidency was an interesting time. Americans became more and more disenchanted with the political process and jaded with the personalities they elected. The shadow of Monica Lewinsky lingers as we saw first hand the power that the office has, as the law really doesn’t apply upon it. Bill and Hillary Clinton, really became caricatures of themselves. I couldn’t help but see Bill Clinton not as a man at the podium on Monday, but as a live-action version of the caricatures drawn by people like Roy Peterson that appeared in editorial lampoons almost daily in the last 8 years.
The presidency is an honour and at the same time an amazing responsibility. As Bill Clinton lets history judge him, we can’t help but note that most presidents are regarded in a positive light once out of office. I say that, because they are dealt a tremendous change that it’s horribly life altering. President Ford, who was criticised for pardoning Nixon was regarded, upon news of his stroke, as one who healed America. Nixon, even is hailed not as a crook, but as time has gone on, he’s simply a manifestation of America’s hopes dashed and failures realised. Jimmy Carter the unassuming gentleman, probably did his best work not as Governor of Georgia or President of the United States, but through his admirable work through Habitat for Humanity or the Carter Institute.
The legendary Andy Rooney, mused a while back that former President’s should be put to better use. The former Presidents: Ford, Carter and Bush could be applied to better use than attending funerals or receiving awards. Even former First Ladies like, Betty Ford who is probably equally as recognisable as her husband, could be utilised by their respective parties or in diplomacy. After a term or so in office, I see no better persons knowledgeable in diplomatic affairs than former Presidents.
Bill Clinton leaves office at the age of 55. Sure, it’s early retirement age already, but this guy has demonstrated that he’s got more than just his memoirs to pen. His wife could be the next Senator from the state of New York. Mr. Rooney suggested that former President’s be christened with the title, ‘President Emeritus’ and be given honorary seats in the Senate.
President Clinton did his best on Monday and Tuesday to remove the Gore-Lieberman ticket of the ‘shadow of scandal’. He yielded the stage to Gore, but the audience, the half-wits we all are, are wanting another encore.
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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .