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Valley residents disappointed in Clinton, want to move on
RANDI BAROCAS
Staff Writer
For all the varied emotions generated by President Clinton's acknowledgment that he had an "inappropriate" sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky, two in particular were shared by leaders of the Phoenix-area Jewish community interviewed this week.
One was disappointment in Clinton, who had said for months that the allegation was untrue. The other was a hope that the long and winding investigation by independent counsel Kenneth Starr would soon be over.
"My trust in him is shattered. And I voted for him twice," Temple Beth Israel's Rabbi Kenneth Segel said of Clinton. "As a man, as a moral leader, I think he has reflected very weak character and very poor judgment. On the other hand, I think it is time to put this issue behind us."
Segel said he's not concerned so much about the impact on the institution of the presidency, as he is about what the scandal has done to those who backed Clinton.
"His daughter, his wife, his supporters, those who went out and supported him - innocent people who supported him and protected him - and maybe even perjured for him to protect him - this whole thing is terribly sad and painful. It's disillusioning," Segel said.
Rabbi Bonnie Koppell, of Temple Beth Sholom in Mesa, said Clinton's Monday night speech to the nation came across as "very political and not necessarily personal."
"He said what he minimally needed to say, but I didn't feel any deep sense of remorse coming through," said Koppell. "I personally missed his not using the words 'I'm sorry.' "
Although she said the public should be concerned about leaders subject to such lapses in judgment, Koppell said Clinton's situation is not black-and-white.
"Because of the uniqueness of the situation, where we are talking about very private, personal, sexual matters, I think it becomes less of a public concern. If his critical lapse in judgment had to do with something military, economic or political, then it would deserve the attention this (scandal) has received," said Koppell. "But as he said, this is between him, his wife, their daughter and their God."
Rabbi David Rebibo, of Beth Joseph Congregation, said Clinton's actions are only part of what disgusts him about the situation, which he said has been infected by a "lynch mob" psychology on the part of investigators, the president's adversaries and the general public.
"Certainly, whether you call what Clinton did a crime, an infraction or wrong, everybody is aware of it," said Rebibo. "But there seems to be a community sin that everybody is participating in. We have engaged in so much legality at the expense of human realities.
"It is terrible what he has done, not only to his family, himself, and the country. But it is equally wrong for all of those to make political hay out of it, no matter what the cost," Rebibo said. "Watching CNN and NBC - it's just like reading the National Enquirer. It's sickening. People thrive on the gossip."
Some of those interviewed said whether the president should leave office should depend on the final results of the investigation by Starr. They all agreed that they would like to see the nation focus its attention back on broader, more pressing issues.
Attorney Mark Tynan, chairman of the Valley's Jewish Community Relations Council, said that what Clinton has done to his family is "despicable," but he is particularly galled by the expense that has gone into the special prosecutor's investigation.
"I find it almost horrific that our embassies in Africa which were bombed went without additional security because of budgetary concerns, but we are spending $40 million on chasing a president on matters that have very little to do with his presidency," said Tynan, emphasizing that he was speaking for himself and not on behalf of the JCRC. "There has been nothing brought to the fore, to the American people, that says Bill Clinton committed a crime that is subject to impeachment."
Although Tynan, a registered Democrat, said he hopes the investigation will soon be completed, and that Clinton will ultimately be judged by accomplishments rather than scandal, he said he could not predict where the situation is heading next.
"All the talking heads on television can say what's going to happen and make all the predictions. But nobody can predict what's going to happen," said Tynan.
At least one thing is certain about Clinton's future: "Bill Clinton is not going to be invited to speak at Temple Beth Israel," said Segel.
Managing Editor Lou Hirsh contributed to this report.
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