Congress Deserves the Blame

There's no longer any rational scenario that could lead an impartial observer to the conclusion that Special Prosecutor Kenneth Starr is objective. But, then again, it's not all his fault.
The real culprit is Congress itself -- and not only Republicans but many Democrats as well.
The creation of an independent special prosecutor was not well thought out by our nation's legislators when the office was created. It is fatally flawed because it leaves the door wide open for political abuse, which could not have been made more clear by the endless investigations of President Clinton.

TV Repetition Ad Nauseum

The growing sensationalism of the media, especially television, magnifies half truths and outright lies at the expense of thoughtful, reasoned evaluation. Commentators, through repetition ad nauseam of unproved accusations, have attempted to sway Americans' opinions against the president.
Many of these same commentators wring their hands over the consistent views expressed by near-record numbers of Americans in various polls that the president continues to be doing his job well. They like to shake their heads and say that Americans, at the same time, do not rate him high on personal ethics (Do you suppose this could be attributed to the constant, unsubstantiated personal attacks?)

Americans Smell a Rat

If there's one thing Americans have been known for over the years it's fairness. Sure, you can fool some of the people some of the time, as (President) Lincoln pointed out, but Americans smell a rat when procedures they normally use are sidestepped.
Here's what's wrong: If you are the victim of wild and unsubstantiated charges, fairness dictates that they first be investigated objectively, and, then, if evidence is uncovered, it is presented to a grand jury to determine whether there should be an indictment.
From the beginning, in Clinton's case, there was no credible evidence of wrongdoing. Nevertheless it was decided to appoint a special prosecutor rather than conduct an objective investigation.

Witch Hunt Authorized

On top of that, the unelected prosecutor was given great powers and funds -- not to objectively determine whether there was evidence of a crime, but rather to search and keep searching for anything he could find. And, obviously, if he can't find anything, he can just keep looking -- and not worry about how long it takes or how much money it costs.
Some people react to the constant and repeated accusations by believing there must be some truth to some of them in the same way that some people read of someone's arrest and believe the accused must be guilty or the police would not have made an arrest. But that's why we have trials; not everyone tried is found guilty.
Do you suppose Starr will keep his investigation going right up to Election Day?
Congress should rethink the special prosecutor legislation and, heaven forefend, remove politics from the whole procedure. Or at least allow investigations to wend their way through the normal and proper legislative process.

I wrote this column as a "My View" for The Hour newspaper of Norwalk, Conn., on May 9, 1998.

Being Good Ought To Be Good Enough

What's wrong with being good?

I've always felt that being good is, well, good enough!

The more I read, listen to the radio and watch television, the more I see that others don't feel the same way. It seems that many people have a congenital urge to be "the best."

Hurry Up . . . And Wait

Usually, it's the Type A personalities. You know, the kind of guy who's not going anywhere, but he just has to get there in a hurry. He's the one who, when your foursome's about to play a round of golf at Oak Hills or Shorehaven (in Norwalk, Conn.), pulls out his watch on the first tee to estimate how quickly he can finish the 18 holes.

People -- especially those on radio and TV and even some newspapermen -- can't seem to survive without hyperbole. In winter, it's not sufficient for weather reporters to talk about the big storm heading our way; it simply isn't enough to say the expected 14 inches of snow will be accompanied by 35 mph winds and gusts of 60 mph.

'Storm of the Century'

Those are merely facts, or at least prognostications. To do it right, any reporter worth his salt will add some drama by forecasting the impending "Storm of the Century."

Calling it anything less would be criminal -- at least until the next Storm of the Century in a week or two!
Same thing with trials. Who would pay any attention to the O.J. Simpson case if it weren't the "Trial of the Century?" If you thought the Bruno Richard Hauptmann trial for the murder of Charles Lindberg Jr. in 1934 was the century's most dramatic and significant trial, forget it!

Anyway, that century's over; we have a new one. Perhaps some eager young TV reporter will make a name for himself soon by labeling his next report the "Storm of the Millennium."

'Entertainer of the Century'

Speaking of millenniums, the century's first TV Guide has crowned Elvis Presley "Entertainer of the Century." Incredibly, it thinks we'll agree with its picks for the Top 10 "Century Club," led by Presley. The other nine are, in order, Marilyn Monroe, the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Jimmy Stewart, Michael Jordon, Johnny Carson, Katharine Hepburn and Mickey Mouse.

Just for the record, I don't agree -- not by a long shot!

These are all fine entertainers, sure, but TV Guide's strained efforts to come up with "the best" is "the worst." It may sell magazines, but it does little else.

The Best: Bing Crosby

I don't expect anyone to agree, but, if one has to pick "the best," my choice would be singer, actor, entertainer -- and a pretty good golfer, too -- Bing Crosby. He recorded over 2,000 songs and influenced generations of singers. Longevity counts.

TV Guide's selections are obviously geared to the present generation; it simply doesn't take the entire century into account.

Foolish Comparisons

 Some names to ponder: Enrico Caruso, Clark Gable, Lillian Gish, Laurence Olivier, Greta Garbo, W.C. Fields, Spencer Tracy, Harold Lloyd, Errol Flynn, Bob Hope -- and the list goes on. Comparisons are foolish, especially by anyone who never even heard of Eddie Cantor; entertainers, and others, must be judged in their own time.

Does Jack Benny compare to Douglas Fairbanks Jr.? Or, Fibber McGee and Molly to Elvis?

I wrote this column for The Hour newspaper of Norwalk, Connecticut, on April 2, 2000.