Clinton puts up weak defence in Monica affair

The President is also telling friends that he foolishly became close to the young intern because they shared stories about their turbulent childhood and difficult upbringing. Clinton grew up under an abusive and alcoholic adoptive father who was never home. Monica is the child of divorced parents although her mother (with whom she lives) and her physician father seem to share a cordial relationship now.

Atop this, in a bid to counter (or undermine) Monica Lewinsky’s version should she claim to have had sexual trysts with the President, Clinton and his aides have already begun saying that her statements on tape that they had physical relationship is either a fantasy or untruthful boasting.

It is now gradually emerging that the President, guided by the First Lady, are determined to stick it out and fight the allegations. The Clintons today called in their old and trusted friends into the inner circle — among them former Commerce Secretary Mickey Kantor and former Deputy Chief of Staff Harold Ickes, both of whom had left his administration last year.

Other Clinton cronies like television producer Harry Thomasson and political strategist James Carville spread out on television networks to urge restraint in reporting and a fair hearing for the President.

“We should not be jumping to conclusions. America should take a deep breath and pause to hear the President who is denying the affair,” Democratic Party leader Roy Romer said.

The Democrats got into the act after Hillary complained that their friends are not speaking out loudly enough in the President’s defence and asked White House political director Craig Smith to rally the troops.

But the already teetering Presidency is being helped over the edge with steady leaks of the 2-hours of tapes in which Monica Lewinsky has provided sordid details of her alleged affair with the President.

Despite White House efforts to clamp a lid on the scandal, the media is becoming emboldened to report on the more graphic accounts of the alleged affair based on her admissions on tape.

Two Arkansas state troopers have previously claimed that Clinton had said Biblical scriptures held that oral sex with a woman other than your wife is not adultery. Despite the brave efforts from the White House to stem the tide, every new sordid detail is chipping away at the Presidency and Democrats sense “that sinking feeling”.

The alarm bells were sounded yesterday by former Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, who became the first Democrat to say the President should quit and make way for Vice-President Al Gore should the allegations be true.

“If these are baseless charges, it’ll be ok. On the other hand, if there’s something there… it would be better for the Democratic Party if Gore became President and you had a new message and new individual up there,” Panetta said.

Meanwhile, negotiations continued between Monica Lewinsky’s attorneys and independent counsel Kenneth Starr’s office.

If Lewinsky is granted immunity and agrees to testify about a relationship with the President, Clinton’s Presidency will be imperiled even if she says he did not ask her to lie. As things stand, Starr’s office is not offering her immunity unless she reiterates what she has said on tape — that Clinton had asked her to lie — thus implicating the President.