[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 56 (Thursday, May 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E796-E797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SPEAKER GINGRICH FALSELY CLAIMS WHITE HOUSE COORDINATION BEHIND 
                      CRITICISM OF CHAIRMAN BURTON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 7, 1998

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, it seems obvious to me that not every 
ciriticism of the Clinton Administration is part of a ``right-wing 
conspiracy,'' but it should be equally clear that not every objection 
to the tactics of a Clinton critic is the product of a White House 
conspiracy. This week, Speaker Gingrich unfairly attacked the 
congressional criticisms of Chairman Burton even though he knew those 
criticisms were justified.
  This Tuesday, in response to widespread ciriticism of Chairman Burton 
for releasing misleading and distorted excerpts of private 
conversations of Mr. Hubbell with his wife and his attorney, Speaker 
Gingrich spoke out to accuse the Democrats in Congress of acting at the 
behest of the White House. Rather than honestly dealing with the 
serious violations of privacy and fairness worked by Chairman Burton, 
Speaker Gingrich changed the subject by claiming ``There has been a 
routine process by this White House to avoid the truth * * * by 
attacking the person who is seeking the truth.''
  Remarkably, one day later, Speaker Gingrich, during a closed 
Republican conference meeting, scolded Chairman Burton for his actions, 
saying ``I'm embarrassed for you, I'm embarrassed for myself, and I'm 
embarrassed for the [Republican] conference at the circus that went on 
at your committee.''
  Clearly, Speaker Gingrich recognizes both that Chairman Burton's 
actions were wrong and that congressional criticisms of him were 
genuine expressions of outrage and not some ``spin'' strategy organized 
by the White House.
  This institution is not well-served by the cynical partisanship of 
the Speaker's attacks on those who were offended by Chairman Burton's 
conduct. With each such outburst, it becomes increasingly unlikely that 
the important investigative work of Chairman Burton's committee, or of 
any other committee which is called on to inquire into allegaiotns of 
wrongdoing at the White House, will lead to any

[[Page E797]]

findings that will be accepted as legitimate by the public.
  I appeal to the higher instincts of Speaker Gingrich and Chairman 
Burton to apoloogize directly to the people who have been smeared by 
these irresponsible attacks--Mr. and Mrs. Hubbell, the President and 
the First Lady--for the good of the Committee and the integrity of the 
Congress as a whole.

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