Another students response...
As Americans we know too much about our presidents, in Clinton’s election the media
went as far as asking the kind of briefs he favors, what does that have to do with him
being a good or bad president? Most of the times we say we want a good leader.
Personal knowledge of the office makes the office less prestigious but more powerful,
because the president can use his influence on the public to sway votes to his favor in
congress. I believe that all politicians lie, some may not tell us the whole truth, by failing
to mention an important peace of information, some may just bluntly lie, and some just
tell us what we want to hear to they may get our votes. An example of unacceptable lie,
is when Bush told Americans that Iraq has weapons of mass destruction and that was the
reason for going to war. But after not finding the weapons it conveniently changed to
liberating Iraqis. No I do not think that voters reward honest politicians, voters reward
politicians who tell them what they want to hear. We all lie at some point or another, but I
feel that even good and honest politicians are forced to lie at some point so as not lose
their votes, so yes they lie more than ordinary citizens. Keep in mind that they are trying
to please this large group of people who have different needs.
The only conditions under which it is permissible for the president to use a lie, if the truth
will risk the national security of Americans in or outside the country, for instance being
deceitful about an ongoing investigation that might stop a terrorist attack. But I feel that
after everything is cleared out then the president has an obligation let us know of the
truth. Although I feel that it was unacceptable of Bill Clinton to lie about his affair, I also
feel that it was non of our business. Bill Clinton should not have to answer to us about his
infidelities, this is between him and his family, provided he is doing his job as the
president, and if it was a conceptual relationship between two adults, then it was not rape,
thus none of my business, but Hillary Clinton’s. Infect instead of lying Bill Clinton should
have just said that his was a personal problem and he will sort it out with his family. The
articles of Impeachment against Bill Clinton were; Perjury before the grand jury, Perjury
in the Jones case, Obstruction of justice, Abuse of power. If he would have come forward
and told the truth about this then he would not have to lie about the affair, thus lying to
the court which was really why he was impeached. Bill’s enemies also twisted the law to
their advantage. Bill should not have been on trial in the first place because of the affair,
if so, then everyone in America who has an affair should be charged.