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Whatever Happened to Righteous Indignation?
3/9/97
Balint Vazsonyi

Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, March 9, 1997, Leon Panetta - formerly chief of staff in President Clinton's White House - was asked about the highly controversial campaign contributions which had been the subject of Presidential and Vice-Presidential press conferences the week before. At issue are phone solicitations for money made from the White House by the currently serving Vice President of the United States. At issue are use of the nation's Executive Mansion and presidential privilege for sale to the highest bidder, practiced with proven presidential encouragement. At issue are foreign powers, hostile to this nation, purchasing a voice of influence in United States policy.

What will it take?

In defending the controversial actions, Mr. Panetta appealed to the American people for an understanding of the "sense of duty" which guided the President's actions. "You must remember," he said, "that the Republicans issued a contract on America. Utilizing large sums of money, they took over Congress and attacked Medicare, Children, and the Environment." Mr. Panetta grew passionate. "The President had to raise money whatever way he could so as to defend the nation against these attacks. That," Mr. Panetta concluded, "is the proper context in which we should regard the President's actions."

What will it take?

Not one journalist present felt called upon to point out that the "Contract with America," misquoted regularly and maliciously by the likes of Mr. Panetta as a "contract on America," was a clearly and publicly articulated document, put to the vote in 1994 and affirmed by a landslide. Not one journalist present felt called upon to ask whether, in Mr. Panetta's opinion, the President of the United States should henceforth be given leave to use any means if he disagrees with other politicians - or the American electorate.

What will it take?

Few Americans have the inside knowledge Mr. Panetta surely possesses about the President's "strength of conviction" on issues. As chief of staff, Mr. Panetta struggled through the times when Mr. Clinton appeared not even to remember what he had said an hour before, much less believe in it. Yet Mr. Panetta's loss of memory is not the point - neither is his insulting assumption that the rest of us had lost ours.

What will it take?

In several hours of questioning by the press, neither the President nor the Vice President ever suggested that the events under scrutiny did not happen. They, and their defenders, are merely floating a daily changing assortment of pitiful excuses.

What will it take?

If a political end is now legitimate explanation for the use of any and all means, are we not approaching Leninism? If losing control of Congress by the Democrats justifies what sounds like a "holy war," is the next step a full-fledged Islamic-type Jihad? And are we, from now on, going to use the money of foreigners to defeat our own?

Is Communist China the ally and are Republican Americans the enemy?

In 1776, righteous indignation gave birth to the freedom and independence of this nation. In 1865, it liberated the slaves. Three times during the 20th century, the righteous indignation of Americans saved Western Civilization.

What will it take, America?!