Monitor: The US Sunday papers consider the articles of impeachment to be voted on this week

All the News of the World

Monday 14 December 1998 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

FROM THE standpoint of both public opinion and the Constitution, censure is still the preferred way to punish President Clinton. But he left Washington yesterday without offering meaningful assistance to those who are trying to save him from being the second President to be impeached by the House of

Representatives.

By putting his own semantic road-blocks in the way of censure, Mr Clinton is giving new meaning to political self-destruction. He is daring a Republican Congressional majority that should not be dared.

The New York Times

AS THE House Judiciary Committee was voting out the first article of impeachment, President Clinton emerged from the White House to deliver himself of one more act of contrition. There is little in this type of ritual apology that ought to help Mr Clinton's case. Even for those of us who oppose impeachment, there is something objectionable about yet another example of verbally excessive breast-beating combined with the appearance - devoid of the reality - of candor.

What would be right is for him to admit finally the now obvious facts that he lied under oath and either encouraged others to do so or at least knowingly tolerated their doing so on his behalf. Then he could make the case, a case we grudgingly support, that his offenses, while grave, should not cause his impeachment.

The Washington Post

THE EXTREME punishment of removal from office is disproportionate to Mr Clinton's misconduct. Instead, both houses of Congress ought to pass a searing condemnation of Mr Clinton's disregard for the law. This joint resolution would require the President's signature, which he indicated Friday he would consider.

Some critics have called such a censure an affront to the Constitution, which specifies the process of impeachment and conviction. On the contrary, it is a sensible middle ground between the overreaction of impeachment and the unacceptability of doing nothing.

The Philadelphia Inquirer

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in