Amid the controversy swirling around Bill Clinton, there seem to be as many different opinions about the president’s personal life as there are cars crammed into the FHS parking lot. Although many students believe President Clinton should be impeached if he is lying about his relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky, others say the president is doing a good job and he should be left alone. “I think what he did was wrong, but I don’t think he should be impeached,” said sophomore Mike Roy. “The presidency is more than a position — it’s a person.” In a survey of sophomores in Sue Brown’s honors English class, it appeared student support of Clinton is wavering. Seventeen of 19 students surveyed believed Clinton should be impeached if he was lying, and only eight of the students still believed Clinton was telling the truth. Elsewhere around the school, opinion was equally mixed. Said senior Christine Hall: “He needs to be impeached. He always denies things and then it ends up he did it.” Although many students don’t agree with what Clinton may have done, they still believe he should remain president, and be allowed to continue doing his job. “I think his personal life (is) between him and Hillary (and) should have nothing to do with the way he runs the country,” said junior Jessica Fjel. With such strong accusations being aimed at the president, many students are beginning to lose trust in Clinton — and in the government in general. “The people in FHS are losing their confidence,” said vice principal Gene Boyle. “They don’t know who to believe, what to believe or when to believe it.” “I don’t think (Clinton’s personal life) should effect the way he runs the government,” said junior Matt Nelson. “But he should be impeached on moral and legal grounds.” Said junior Dan Denmark: “He’s supposed to be the symbol of America.” Regardless of their opinions, many students predict that if President Clinton remains in office, his political career still may be bleak. “In the future he will be made fun of and lose credibility,” said junior David Gietzen. “No one will pay attention to him and he will be treated badly.” Becoming president, said junior Morgan Luce, involves more than just running a country — it makes one’s personal life common knowledge. “If you dig deep enough into anyone’s life, you’re going to find something that’s not publicly acceptable,” said Luce. “The president has so many people digging into his (life) that, of course, bad things are going to come of it.” |
