By DAVID OMOM
Staff Writer
 

Many years later, I am political science major faced with the same problem, and even though I have constantly revised my definition over the years..I am still left wondering...

This week the embattled Bill Clinton received a standing ovation at the UN General Assembly, a rare honor that in the last decade has been accorded to only one other person, South Africa's revered statesman Nelson Mandela. You could argue that Clinton's ovation was performed more out of sympathy and a show of support, but either way you look at it, it's still a standing ovation at the United Nations.

Over the last two weeks, the media and its technology has also made sure that the 445 page report damning the occupant of the White House, was made as widely available as possible. That means that by tapping into Yahoo, a 14 year old in suburbia, Suzhou or in the Sicilian countryside could pour over convincing evidence that the US President committed perjury. That 14 year old could also examine the other accusations leveled at Clinton such as abuse of power, witness tampering and obstruction of justice, not to mention the infamous cigar story.

But what really is the rest of the world thinking about all these lurid details about a President who it seems cannot control his libido. First of all, I believe, everyone is tired of hearing about it. Actually, make that sick and tired, especially of all the details. To most people this is an embarrassing, sordid tale of a Chief Executive that they wish they had not heard of.

Some even argue that it is hypocritical to humiliate Clinton as we've all seen, when American society hasn't fared any better in recent history moral-wise. They are right, we could have excused the religious Taliban in Afghanistan had they done this to their head (and I'm sure they are burning any copies of the Starr report because of its X-rated content). However, just because American society hasn't led the world morally doesn't mean the President shouldn't be measured by Taliban-style standards of morality. I'm sure the folks in Kabul or Khartoum would rightly say that leadership is about integrity and character..and a big kahuna without credibility is no kahuna.

Sure, the argument of economics may hold, but how long is his luck going to run on this principle? Coming from Africa, I certainly support this reasoning, that since under his management the US economy has performed much better than it did for many decades under Republican Presidents and that this performance entitles Clinton to stay in power.

Why should Americans get rid of an administration that has given them the highest economic growth rate in years, record unemployment levels in decades, and has managed to balance the budget and even offer them a projected budget surplus of $39-63 billion, the first in 29 years. At a time when the US economy is booming and the stock market (save the last 2 months) has seen a tremendous run, wouldn't it be imprudent to sacrifice such an able manager just because of his sexual failings and because he chose to lie about it?

Yet, despite the show of support at the UN General Assembly, many editorials in newspapers worldwide have urged the beleaguered President to resign. In a time when Russia is teetering on the brink of absolute economic disaster, the Asian crisis is showing no signs of shooing away, and Japan's recession is not showing signs of ending soon, then we certainly do not need a lame-duck US President.

In months to come, things are going to get worse all over the world. Malaysia is slowly becoming another unstable Indonesia, while many other nations in the region aren't any better economically. Russia is already under, and the Brazilian economy may follow suit with the entire Latin American region. Africa is almost a foregone conclusion. It is at this time that US leadership is going to prove important and vital. A President tainted and unable to marshal any concerted action plans with Congress is as good as an acting President and it is for this reason that he ought to resign.

Either way you look at it, both sides have a compelling argument. Ultimately, it will be up to Americans to wash the dirty linen they have unfortunately chosen to exhibit to the world. Either way, the international community will be watching with amusement, and the US presidency will never be the same again in the eyes of the world.