[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AUTHORIZING THE COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER 
   SUFFICIENT GROUNDS EXIST FOR THE IMPEACHMENT OF WILLIAM JEFFERSON 
                CLINTON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

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                               speech of

                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 8, 1998

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my strong objections over 
the Republican resolution ordering an impeachment inquiry against 
President Clinton. This has become a one-sided, all-out and disgraceful 
witch hunt into the private life of the President, and I strongly 
disagree with its objectives and methods.
  Although I believe that the President's behavior with Ms. Lewinsky 
was indefensible and disgraceful, and I certainly do not condone it, it 
is in no way an impeachable offense. Given the existing evidence, I 
believe that there is no basis for impeachment of the President. Lying 
about an extramarital affair, regardless of to whom, does not rise to 
the level of an impeachable offense, as defined by the Constitution: 
``* * * the President shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, 
and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and 
Misdemeanors.'' While the President's behavior was offensive, I believe 
that it does not fit this definition. I sincerely doubt that the 
farmers of the Constitution had Kenneth Starr's report--which focused 
on private sexual behavior--in mind when drafting the impeachment 
clause.
  It is time for us to put this issue behind us and move onto matters 
that are vital to our nation. Our country has many challenges to 
confront, and it is imperative that Congress give its attention to the 
very important issues that affect the daily lives of all Americans--
such as improving our education system, protecting Medicare and Social 
Security, and strengthening the world economy. Over the course of the 
105th Congress, we have witnessed an abuse of power.
  And it is this Congress that is guilty of the abuse. You see, Mr. 
Speaker, we abuse the power we have when children go to bed hungry, and 
we do little or nothing about it.
  We abuse our power when Social Security is in trouble and we sit idly 
by;
  We abuse our power when we don't address the problems of the 
environment, such as polluted waterways and dirty air;
  We abuse our power when our health care system is ill, and we don't 
cure it;
  We abuse our power when we allow the tobacco companies to poison our 
children without regard;
  We abuse our power when our campaign financing system needs reform 
and we ignore it;
  We abuse our power when our students are lagging behind those of 
other nations and we don't address the issue properly;
  I think it has become painfully obvious that the Republican 
leadership wants to simply ignore the priorities that remain important 
to the general public, while insisting on following through with a 
purely partisan and never-ending investigation into the private life of 
our President. This is something that I simply cannot be a party to and 
that I strongly oppose.

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