Lamar Smith: “a few days ago Newsweek published an article the likes of which I have never seen before concerning a current President.…”

“a few days ago Newsweek published an article the likes of which I have never seen before concerning a current President. Titled ``The Politics of Promiscuity,'' it examines the basic question of President Clinton's character. Despite the title, it is not a sleazy story. It is not a partisan story. What it is, is a lamentable story, and regrettably, in the case of this White House, an unending one. The article's author, Joe Klein, writes that: Paula Jones' story will join the rising landfill of allegations of personal misbehavior that Bill Clinton has had to deny, deflect, defend, derail. It has heft only because there have been so many others, and because it reinforces a widely held suspicion about the precise nature of the president's problem. Klein continues, ``It seems increasingly, and sadly, apparent that the character flaw Bill Clinton's enemies have fixed upon-- promiscuity--is a defining characteristic of his public life as well.'' The Newsweek author is not talking about promiscuity's most common meaning, but its fullest meaning--casual or irregular behavior. Whether at home or abroad, this kind of careless, cavalier conduct has been the trademark of this administration. As Klein observes, the result is-- With the Clintons, the story always is subject to further revision. The misstatements are always incremental. The ``misunderstanding'' are always innocent--casual, irregular: promiscuous. Trust is squandered in dribs and drabs.…”