Is It Stupidity or Incompetence?

Two small steps forward, one giant step back.

Friday morning, Janet Reno concludes that President Clinton did nothing wrong by hosting supporters at coffees in the White House.

Friday afternoon, in a special “Crossfire” segment with Pat Buchanan, I dismiss the significance of the White House coffees.

Then Sunday morning, a bombshell: Videotapes of the coffees that had miraculously appeared from White House archives are released to the media. By Sunday afternoon, I’m helping CNN identify supporters on the tapes. And suddenly, through White House venality or incompetence, the scandal is alive again; who will be the first to call it “Coffeegate?”

There is no excuse for the sudden, late release of these videotapes. None.

Nobody knew the tapes existed? Baloney! There is a military crew taping at least the first few minutes of every official White House event involving the president. Remember that famous video of young Billy Clinton shaking hands with President Kennedy?

Nobody could find the tapes because they looked in the files under “fund-raising” and found nothing, but never thought about looking under “coffees.” Ridiculous! Of course, there were no entries under “fund-raising” because there were no fund-raisers held at the White House. Remember?

The tapes were never discovered until last week? Hello? Do they expect anybody to believe that? Were the tapes hanging out with those Rose Law Firm billing records?

At first, we’re told there is no audio on the tape of the famous June 18, 1996, coffee at which John Huang allegedly made a direct pitch for campaign contributions. Amazing. Rose Mary Woods lives.

The staff of the Senate committee investigating campaign finance practices had been notified last Wednesday about the existence of the tapes, but White House staff simply forgot to relay the same information to the Justice Department until Saturday. Sure they did. Because, of course, nobody at the White House knew that Friday, Oct. 3, was Reno’s deadline for a decision on whether to continue her investigation of the coffees and Lincoln Bedroom entertaining, a decision that could lead to the naming of an independent counsel. This was a deliberate, imperial thumbing-of-the-nose at the attorney general, which should make even the mild-mannered Reno apoplectic.

The entire manner in which the White House videotapes were kept hidden, conveniently edited and then suddenly and selectively released is simply inexcusable. And monumentally stupid. Stupid because, looking objectively, the tapes themselves provide nothing new, other than a visual record of what we all know happened anyway.

Months ago, the White House acknowledged existence of the coffees. Months ago, the White House released the names of all those who attended the coffees. Months ago, the White House denied that any solicitation for funds ever took place at the coffees. Despite nonstop huffing and puffing on the part of Republicans in Congress, there has been no evidence yet to contradict the White House.

The White House could have helped put the coffee issue to bed once and for all by releasing videotapes of the president’s muffin munches months ago. Instead, by holding the tapes and not releasing them until last weekend, the Clinton staff have not only resurrected the coffees as an issue, they have put pressure on Janet Reno to reopen her investigation. And, worse yet, they have made their own bungling of evidence a central issue in the continuing campaign finance scandal.

Late bulletin! Monday afternoon: The White House announces discovery (but not yet the release) of tapes of still more political events. Take it from one Democrat, it’s getting harder and harder to defend this White House gang.