Clinton Setbacks, Investigations

Re “Clinton Pulls Trade Bill Rather Than Risk Defeat,” Nov. 10: President Clinton demanded fast-track authority so he could craft trade agreements without scrutiny by the people’s representatives and without interference by “special interests.” With another president, I might have favored such authority. However, having followed the campaign finance hearings, which amply described the selling of this presidency to a whole host of special interests, the last thing I wanted to see was the most corrupt and compromised president in U.S. history given a free hand away from public view to reward his pals at the expense of the American people.

Could it be that despite their stonewalling and obstruction of the investigations into this administration, even the Democrats (who were responsible for killing fast-track) have had to confront the stench of corruption that clings to Clinton and say “enough”?

PAT PARKER

Los Angeles

Regarding Joseph Farah’s Nov. 11 Column Right (read Column Extreme Right), whom does he think he’s fooling? Anyone who watches television news or reads newspapers knows that the Western Journalism Center is a right-wing propaganda machine. His organization never really got any attention until the vicious and unfounded attacks on President Clinton reared their ugly heads. Who are these people anyway? Why does The Times print such trash without giving us information about the source?

As for Paula Jones, if the Clintons are being investigated for practically every breath they’ve ever taken, why shouldn’t the public know who is supporting this woman’s pathetic attempt at extortion? I can’t wait until Clinton is vindicated and can sue them all for the evil slanderers they are.

MICHAEL STIPANICH

West Hollywood

Not once in your Nov. 10 editorial describing the Thompson committee’s failed efforts to find a “smoking gun” in the Democratic campaign finance scandals do you mention the fact that the major players have fled the country, stalled the committee or said they would plead the 5th.

The president and an acquiescent media seem content with this state of affairs. Where were your editorials calling on Clinton to have his subordinates testify before Sen. Fred Thompson’s committee and the American people?

WEBSTER WILLIAMS

Los Angeles

The biggest contrast that I see between the two investigations [Nixon and Clinton] is that in one you had a bipartisan investigation into a corrupt president, while on the other hand, you had a partisan defense of a corrupt president.

ROGER L. CLOUTIER

Redondo Beach

Re “Clinton’s Speech to Gays, Lesbians Will Be a First,” Nov. 8:

Andrea Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition says, “Clinton has reduced the prestige and importance of the presidency.” Kirstin Hansen of the Family Research Council thinks, “It is a tragedy that he (Clinton) is using his bully pulpit to endorse homosexuality.” I think it’s a tragedy that Sheldon, Hansen and others use the bully pulpit of the religious “right” to sit in judgment of others and openly endorse discrimination.

I applaud Clinton for following in the footsteps of presidents like Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt and John Kennedy--great men who honored their oath of office to stand behind the Constitution and demand--against all odds--equality and freedom for all Americans.

VAN EPPERSON

Los Angeles

With his financial shenanigans and misleading statements, President Clinton lost my funding support. With his appearance before homosexual activists, he has lost my mind and heart. Maybe I’m just an “old Democrat,” but if this is what being a “new Democrat” is about, then I’m becoming a fledgling Republican.

DAVE WILSON

Torrance