Clinton Calls Impeachment 'Egregious' Abuse

[DearAbby]

Updated: 10:12 AM EST
Clinton Calls Impeachment 'Egregious' Abuse
By FRANK ELTMAN, AP




http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20051111050409990002&ncid=NWS00010000000001

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (Nov. 11) - Former president Bill Clinton called Congress' impeachment of him an "egregious" abuse of the Constitution and challenged those who say history will judge him poorly because of his White House tryst with Monica Lewinsky.

Speaking at an academic conference examining his presidency here Thursday, Clinton challenged historian Douglas Brinkley's comments in a newspaper interview that Clinton would be deemed a great president were it not for his impeachment."

I completely disagree with that," Clinton said in his speech at Hofstra University. "You can agree with that statement, but only if you think impeachment was justified. Otherwise, it was an egregious abuse of the Constitution and law and history of our country."

Clinton was acquitted by the Senate of perjury and obstruction of justice at his 1999 impeachment trial, which he argued was not about what he called his "misconduct."

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20051111050409990002&ncid=NWS00010000000001


Note the Poll on AOL:::

What do you think of Bill Clinton's impeachment?

It was an abuse 60%
It was justified 40%

What's your rating of Clinton's presidency overall?


Excellent 46%
Good 20%
Poor 19%
Fair 16%


Total Votes: 91,186
Note on Poll Results

[npincus]

1. 66% thought his presidency was good or excellent (this poll says)

I'll bet Chimpy's numbers won't add up above 40% (and I am being VERY kind)

[DearAbby]

2. I am surprised by this poll, I always thought AOL was slanted GOP

[Erika]

5. It is heavily GOP slanted

I imagine about 75% of our citizens disagreed with the impeachment. That's why so many of the Senate acquited him.

[DearAbby]

3. I see that the Poll is getting DU Attention

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5335063




:hi:

[Conker]

4. That poll surprises me also.

I never realized so many people liked Clinton.I also believe his impeachment is an abuse.How can someone impeach Clinton for what he did, but not impeach Bush for all the damage he has done?Thanks for the deficit, Bush :sarcasm: .

[DearAbby]

6. It seems there is a huge barrier between the people and those governing

in Washington. Most people believe that * lied us into war, if that is not an impeachable act, I dont know what is. Yet those that are governing in Washington are afraid of the "I" word, also afraid of the "L" word.