CAN-DO CLINTON DESERVES REPRIEVE FROM SCANDALS
Can-do Clinton deserves reprieve from scandals
THE last time he visited Belfast, President Clinton breezed into a doom-laden city with all the can-do optimism you would expect from a man born in a town called Hope.
Yesterday it was the historically dour Northern city's turn to be unusually upbeat while his own domestic problems left the normally ebullient president somewhat downcast.
But ridicule at home didn't deter him from demonstrating in Ireland the awesome political skills and powers of communication that had him twice elected to the most powerful office on earth.
Both in Belfast and Omagh, then later in Dublin, his confidence seemed to be buoyed up by the warmth of the reception shown by the Irish people and their gratitude for his contribution to a durable peace .in Ireland.
The president's input matched the efforts of any Irish or British politician, and the authority of his office allowed him greater latitude to coax and cajole ancient enemies.
No one else could have done it: unravelling centuries of mutual suspicion and misunderstanding and acting as an honest broker between the apparently irreconcilable loyalist, nationalist and republican traditions was a triumph of diplomacy and statesmanship.
Without his tireless patience, ready availability and endless goodwill there would probably have been a dozen mini-Omaghs, and the inevitable reprisals.
Unionists suspect his motives are selfish, that he is inherently pro-republican and his Irish peace mission was an election promise to woo Irish-American votes.
Cynics claim it was a public relations exercise to parade a foreign policy success before sceptics at home.
But the Irish people owe President Clinton a debt that dwarfs whatever moral indiscretions and personal shortcomings have been, or will be, thrown up by special prosecutor Starr or any future earthquake of bimbos.
Bill Clinton's dark secrets and squalid personal habits may highlight his flaws as an ideal contemporary husband; they do not diminish his historic achievements as a statesman.
Whatever doubts there may be about the US bombing of Sudan and Afghanistan or the motivation for it, it would be churlish for us not to give President Clinton the benefit of any doubts.
Yesterday, the Examiner followed an old Cork newspaper tradition and wagged its finger at a powerful foreign leader. However, last night cynics asked if the Examiner would have taken the lofty stance if President Clinton had included Cork on his itinerary.
It was in Moscow, the day before he flew into Ireland, that Mr Clinton got a taste of how the US media will treat him through the remaining two years of his presidency. Confronted with a nuclear power tottering on the economic abyss, the American reporters were more concerned with Monica Lewinsky than an international recession or the potential global fallout.
It was the same in Dublin yesterday: Monica/Bill jokes were faxed around the city, although it would be rare for Irish people to be so coarse or common as to publicly embarrass the president.
As a political currency, ridicule is more corrosive to a reputation than criticism and it seems unfair that a president who has delivered unparalleled prosperity to his people, and achieved so much for the Irish, should find his historical reputation paying such an exorbitant price for poor judgment in his private life.
Bill Clinton has enjoyed many of the happiest moments and the most successful venture in foreign affairs of his presidency in Ireland.
As he limps through the dying days of his presidency, and when he eventually leaves the office on Pennsylvania Avenue, there should always be a welcome - and a refuge - here for Bill Clinton.
THE last time he visited Belfast, President Clinton breezed into a doom-laden city with all the can-do optimism you would expect from a man born in a town called Hope.
Yesterday it was the historically dour Northern city's turn to be unusually upbeat while his own domestic problems left the normally ebullient president somewhat downcast.
But ridicule at home didn't deter him from demonstrating in Ireland the awesome political skills and powers of communication that had him twice elected to the most powerful office on earth.
Both in Belfast and Omagh, then later in Dublin, his confidence seemed to be buoyed up by the warmth of the reception shown by the Irish people and their gratitude for his contribution to a durable peace .in Ireland.
The president's input matched the efforts of any Irish or British politician, and the authority of his office allowed him greater latitude to coax and cajole ancient enemies.
No one else could have done it: unravelling centuries of mutual suspicion and misunderstanding and acting as an honest broker between the apparently irreconcilable loyalist, nationalist and republican traditions was a triumph of diplomacy and statesmanship.
Without his tireless patience, ready availability and endless goodwill there would probably have been a dozen mini-Omaghs, and the inevitable reprisals.
Unionists suspect his motives are selfish, that he is inherently pro-republican and his Irish peace mission was an election promise to woo Irish-American votes.
Cynics claim it was a public relations exercise to parade a foreign policy success before sceptics at home.
But the Irish people owe President Clinton a debt that dwarfs whatever moral indiscretions and personal shortcomings have been, or will be, thrown up by special prosecutor Starr or any future earthquake of bimbos.
Bill Clinton's dark secrets and squalid personal habits may highlight his flaws as an ideal contemporary husband; they do not diminish his historic achievements as a statesman.
Whatever doubts there may be about the US bombing of Sudan and Afghanistan or the motivation for it, it would be churlish for us not to give President Clinton the benefit of any doubts.
Yesterday, the Examiner followed an old Cork newspaper tradition and wagged its finger at a powerful foreign leader. However, last night cynics asked if the Examiner would have taken the lofty stance if President Clinton had included Cork on his itinerary.
It was in Moscow, the day before he flew into Ireland, that Mr Clinton got a taste of how the US media will treat him through the remaining two years of his presidency. Confronted with a nuclear power tottering on the economic abyss, the American reporters were more concerned with Monica Lewinsky than an international recession or the potential global fallout.
It was the same in Dublin yesterday: Monica/Bill jokes were faxed around the city, although it would be rare for Irish people to be so coarse or common as to publicly embarrass the president.
As a political currency, ridicule is more corrosive to a reputation than criticism and it seems unfair that a president who has delivered unparalleled prosperity to his people, and achieved so much for the Irish, should find his historical reputation paying such an exorbitant price for poor judgment in his private life.
Bill Clinton has enjoyed many of the happiest moments and the most successful venture in foreign affairs of his presidency in Ireland.
As he limps through the dying days of his presidency, and when he eventually leaves the office on Pennsylvania Avenue, there should always be a welcome - and a refuge - here for Bill Clinton.
Further Information
Publisher: IRISH INDEPENDENT
Ref: II/226
Published Date: 04-Sep-98
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