(12 Sep 1998) English/Nat
Now the long awaited Starr report on the U-S President has finally been released to the world on Friday, ordinary Americans are giving their reaction.
Some say they're dismayed at the graphic details included in the report sent to the U-S House of Representatives.
But others believe that if the president lied, an impeachment or his resignation should be the consequences of his misconduct.
The report lays out in graphic terms several sexual episodes between Monica Lewinsky and President Clinton in the White House.
Parts of Special Prosecutor Kenneth Starr's report allege that the president and the intern had oral sex while he talked on the phone with members of Congress.
Polls show Americans thought all along that Clinton had an affair and lied about it but many want to put the matter to rest.
Now Starr's report will force the nation to grapple again with the subject.
Some feel he should resign.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"If any body else in the armed forces did what he did they'd lose his job and the head of the armed forces he should lose his job. I mean if anybody else did, as the C-E-O of a major corporation if I did it I'd lose my job."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
But others think he should stay.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I believe that if every public official that we elected would resign for lying we wouldn't have any government so I don't know that it's all that important that he resign. I know that he's apologising now and that's good. That is important that he do that for the people. I feel more for his family myself. In what they're going though and I think we're making much too much out of this."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
Many feel that his alleged lying shows a lack of integrity.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Certainly a resignation would be preferable over impeachment. It reflects a lack of integrity that's in politics today, a lack of conviction."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I believe in my heart of hearts that if President Clinton did indeed lie to the public, to the judicial facets of this United States government that he does indeed deserve to be impeached. It is a sad day for the United States. To be distracted by what is happening today, I believe is an absolute travesty for this government."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Integrity is a universal attribute that lots of people possess and some people do and some people don't and had the man had integrity he would have set himself up from the beginning of his political career to protect himself from such things, but instead he used his political career to gain sexual favours from women throughout his time in office."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
Some people are surprised that there is such fuss about the affair.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Why should it surprise anyone that a liar is going to be thrown out of office. George Bush was thrown out of office for lying and breaking his no new taxes pledge why should we be any less kind to President Clinton on that regard. He's lied to the American people. He lied to our face. He lied to our congress, he lied to our courts, he's not worthy of the office, whether we forgive him for his private behaviour or not."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
SOUNDBITE: (English)
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think he's gone way too far. I don't think we really care anymore. It's kind of over."
SUPER CAPTION: Vox Pop
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I don't this it's necessary, I think it's private. He admitted that he lied. That should be enough fodder for an indictment if he wants to get one."
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