Report ~ Sept. 24, 1998:

The European View of

Clinton Videotape Testimony

~~Selected quotes from Europe~~

Today's "Kurier" in Vienna, an article written by Alfred Payrleitner. The report starts with the already known statements of politicians, and continues: (note, this is translated from the German, with some words not clear or even found in Deutsch/English dictionaries). However, we feel the sense of the topic is clear:

"So much solidarity with the the tortured President is remarkable. The professionals see that their whole profession/status (the original word <Stand> means both)is in danger by the blind-with-rage-releasing of the Puritan-porn.

"The pre-conviction via Internet doesn't only violate the hitherto used Western legal standards, but also damages the dignity, and together with that, the functioning of highest offices, too. Is each method right in a political struggle for power? Are reasons of state and the principle of appropriateness of cause and damage suspended?

"No wonder that everywhere statesmen and stateswomen are worried.

"But it would not be America unless dismissing reactions would show. The hypocritically appearing apology-and remorse-rituals of the public figures might seem strange to a European - but they have the desired effect, though.

"If someone is grilled too badly, as Clinton, the public opinion can tip over, and he becomes a pitiable underdog. Moreover, there is a certain degree of repletion by voyeurism - even embarrassing details become boring, by and by. Treated in the right way, the nation's soul arises as the true father confessor and last instance of which even the masters of media despair.

"A <moloch> (no ready translation appears)fails because of his own exaggerations. Who knows, maybe there will be soon special inquiries against the special inquest, because of interception of important testimonies?

"Bill Clinton, this old-grown flower-child with the late fear of sexual execution, this sly-foxy Washington lawyer with the iron nerves, is a cunning dealmaker and an excellent self-producer. Already his results of sympathy increased to 66%, and two thirds are against impeachment. Perhaps the whole fuss will become a self-downfall of the Republicans - at a price of the biggest campaign of sex education in the American history since ever.

"Moreover, the data of US-economy look very well, not only in the case of employment but also of the financial situation. There such a surplus ahs accumulated that currently the question is if the money better would be used for tax cuts or rather for the rehabilitation of pension funds. To reach that, many European electors would accept even quite other untruths."

~~~~~~~~~~

Earlier comments, as reported Tuesday, Sept. 22:

• Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of Germany: "That's enough to make me sick. I feel deeply dismayed."

• The German FDP General Secretary, Westerwelle: "This step was bloody awful."

• The French President, Chirac, telephoned with Clinton to affirm his "...high regard and friendship in a time of personal trial."

• The former French Minister of Culture, Lang, called the publication: "...an audio-visual murderous attempt."

• The French Minister of Work, Aubry, is "dismayed how Starr can run the risk of endangering democracy."

• The former Italian President, Cossiga, spoke of an "attempted moral lynch-murder" and called Starr a "public voyeur" and a "little man who tortures Clinton."

• The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, met Clinton during the broadcasting of the video and commented: "This support is based not only on personal friendship. To express it, is in our national interest, too."

• "Weltwoche", Zurich: "Rebel in Porn City: This matter did not only lead to a forced and public strip-tease of Bill Clinton, but also bared America."

• "der Standard", Vienna: "The responsibility for this most brutal political war which a Western democracy experienced within the second half of the century, is taken by a political tendency called "moral majority." This moral majority doesn't produce anything else but public confessions like in the middle ages or torturing self-criticism like during the Chinese Culture Revolution. The same politicians who lie daily in their teeth, show that they want to crucify Clinton because of moral offences, for they couldn't beat him politically..... We are standing now close before the end of a witch hunt, that overshoots the acceptable measure considerably. For, when it was certain that Clinton had lied, one could have done without further disclosures. What happens now is not only the destruction of Bill Clinton and his family, but a bomb raid for the office of the President of the USA, at the same time."

• And in the U.S., during the United Nations Plenary meeting ... standing ovations for Clinton, for minutes. In the view of our Euro-Reporter, "...all that not because he's <such a nice guy> and because nobody can see his guilt, but because of a deep disgust of his <public execution>.

Updated 12-5-98