
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 30, 1994                   TAG: 9404010016
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WHITEWATER

LAST WEEK, on a day the stock market fell by nearly 50 points, one day after the presumed next president of Mexico was assassinated, just a few days after North Korea had practically threatened war (possibly nuclear war) - and at a time when violence was erupting in the Middle East, South African elections were approaching, and Congress was grappling with health-care reform, anti-crime legislation and new national standards for public schools - President Clinton held a press conference.

And, to no one's surprise, every question from American journalists was about Whitewater.

Whitewater refers, of course, to an Arkansas land deal from more than a decade ago, on which by all accounts the Clintons lost money.

President Clinton's approval ratings in the polls jumped after the press conference, despite the barrage of "tough" questions. According to one survey, 71 percent of Americans say Whitewater has been "overreported." A majority believe the story is a "distraction."

They're right.

As Rep. Jim Leach, the Iowa Republican and outspoken critic of the president, has observed, what's alleged is "a breach of ethics before a president took office. Watergate was a breach of law while a president was in office - a major distinction." Leach scoffs at talk of impeachment or criminal proceedings against Clinton.

To be sure, the Clintons have created more damage than they've controlled by acting as if they have something to hide. They may have something to hide. If they do, that's for a special prosecutor and congressional hearings and, yes, enterprising journalists to uncover. Let the Clintons face the consequences if they've committed misdeeds.

But, meantime, until and unless serious charges are even brought forward, not to mention substantiated, let's give the president leeway to pursue his substantial agenda. This administration, don't forget, changed the question from whether health insurance should be universally assured to how best to get it accomplished. This agenda is too important to be drowned out by the Whitewater drumbeat.

by CNB