The impeachment trial of Bill Clinton is, in my opinion far more immoral than the alleged "crimes" of the president.

These charges and actions by the House Republican majority stem from the avowed intention (stated on the very night of his election) to have him removed from office before the end of his first term! This was stated by the conservative coalition at that time and increasingly since.

The farcical Starr investigations spent more than $45 million to discover no substance to any of the myriad charges against him save that of sexual improprieties.

But to me the real crime is to raise the issue in the first place. No other president has been called to task for his personal sexual activities. And we have plenty of historical proof for that fact. Yet the self-righteous zealots pursued this issue against Clinton, knowing that he was damned if he did and damned if he didn't answer the charges.

As to the morality of the issue, pressed so arduously by so many religious-rightist groups, I would like to put the following thoughts:

Had God removed King David from office for his illicit relations with Bathsheba, as well as for ordering the murder of her husband, instead of "censuring" him with the death of his first child, then where would many of his psalms come from? We would not have had King Solomon to follow him! And, finally, from what lineage would Christianity have claimed Jesus to derive, if not from the House of David? David, this murderer, adulterer - hero, psalmist king!

Ralph Krainin, D.M.D.

January 21,1999

Guest Editorial # G3