August 24, 1998 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - Though often tempted, I rarely delve into politics in these articles. For one thing, I understand that political ills are merely a symptom of moral and spiritual problems. The root problem in any land is apostasy and idolatry and licentiousness. These, therefore, are the things that we focus on. For another thing, these reports go to many parts of the world and I can only report effectively on American politics. I am going to make an exception today, though. I feel compelled to compare two men in the political news, one who is honorable and one who is dishonorable.

THE HONORABLE -- KENNETH W. STARR

According to the polls, his approval rating is less than 13%. He is openly maligned by the president of the United States and by the president's cabinet. He is absolutely hated by the Democratic political party and by the liberal news media, but he is one of the most honorable men in the United States government and judicial system today. His name is Kenneth Starr, special prosecutor assigned with the task of investigating suspected illegal activities of the president of the United States. He did not choose this difficult task, and he is not a lone ranger. He was appointed to the job because of his reputation of being fair, efficient, thorough, and non partisan. At the time of his appointment, David Vladek, of the Public Citizen Litigation Group, said that Starr was "universally trusted because he's a fair broker, a square-shooting kind of guy." That testimony expressed a consensus of opinion at the time. Starr operates under the supervision of Attorney General Janet Reno (an appointee of Democrat President Bill Clinton) and a panel of three federal judges. Each time Starr has broadened his investigation, he has done so only with the approval of these high-level officials. His grand juries are under the watch care of a judge.

According to a report by MSNBC, Starr grew up in Thalia, Texas, with deep religious convictions. His father was a Church of Christ minister. "Starr planned to follow his father into the ministry but then switched his interest to political science and attended law school at Duke University." At age 27, he became a clerk to Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger. Ten years later he became the youngest judge ever appointed to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. In 1989 he became solicitor general for the Bush administration and subsequently argued 25 Supreme Court cases. In 1990, he was on the short list for a Supreme Court vacancy.

I want to share with you why I believe Kenneth Starr is an honorable man and why I am thankful that he is on the scene today.

Starr is honorable because he cares more about truth and justice than about popularity polls. If the president of the United States is allowed to turn the White House into a house of ill repute, then lie under oath and obstruct justice, and continue as if nothing serious had occurred, the rule of law will fail. This government was formed to be a republic not a democracy. A republic is the rule of law. A democracy is mob rule. America is a republic not a monarchy or a dictatorship. Under a republic even the highest official of the land is under obedience to the law. Starr's important task is to investigate whether or not Clinton has committed crimes of which he is suspected. His job is to report to Congress whether or not there is evidence that the president committed possible impeachable offenses. Starr is SUPPOSED to pursue every lead. Starr is SUPPOSED to delve into the private affairs of the president, since that is the nature of the current investigation. He is SUPPOSED to take as long as necessary and to spend however much is required. That is his job! If he does not pursue it he is derelict of his duty, because only by doing so can he ascertain if the president has committed impeachable offenses.

Starr is honorable because he has not wilted under immense pressure from the president's friends, the Democrats, the political spin masters, the media, the Hollywood jokesters. The attitude and activities of Democratic strategist James Carville demonstrates the pressure which has come to bear upon Starr. Carville said: "There's going to be a war. ... We're going to fight very hard." And war they have. By the enemies of his investigation Starr has been compared to every evil and low life form known to man!

Starr is honorable because he has done his difficult job in the face of great obstacles and continual frustration. The president has stonewalled Starr's investigation at every turn, yet Starr has plodded on with his painstaking search for the truth.

I salute you, Kenneth W. Starr.

THE DISHONORABLE -- BILL CLINTON

President Bill Clinton has shown no such honor.

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because has repeatedly broken the marital vows he made to his wife before God. He has lied repeatedly to his wife, his daughter, his friends, his cabinet, the American people, and the world. It is probable that he has perjured himself under oath and has attempted to obstruct justice.

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because even when caught red-handed by the diligent efforts of the Special Prosecutor he has refused to make an honest and forthright confession. He refused to make a humble apology. He persists in shifting blame. He persists in the lie that his private life is not the business of the nation. His so-called confession, which was broadcast to the nation and the world, was more akin to the temper tantrum of a spoiled child caught doing something naughty. He was not sorry for his wretched deeds; he was sorry he got caught. He did not determine not to sin again; he determined not to get caught again.

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because his actions have filled the land with ribald conversation and immoral thoughts. Even the regular news reports have become an embarrassment to God-fearing families.

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because he pretends that his private life is not the business of the nation or of an investigation. As Representative George Nethercutt observed about the presidency, though: "Certainly they have private lives with their wife and child. I don't think they have private lives with 21-year-old interns.''

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because he has been the worst possible example to the children and youth of America. He has continually stated that his greatest concern is the children, that his policies are written with the children in mind. He has attacked the tobacco industry "for the children," etc., etc. That testimony is shown to be another of his blatant lies. If he cared about the children he would not have so perverted the office of the presidency before their wondering eyes. At the very least, if he cared for the children, he would humbly confess and resign, plainly admitting that he has disgraced the nation, warning the children that he is a living example that sin brings ignominy and destruction.

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because he has pretended that the cost of the special prosecution has been outlandish. It has been no such thing. The cost has been $40 million over roughly four years. That is less than the cost of similar type of investigation (though not done under the current independent counsel law) into Republican president Richard Nixon, an investigation which cost $50 million in 1973 dollars. Twenty-five years of inflation would make the Nixon investigation cost at least $80 million in 1998 dollars, two times the cost of the Clinton investigation. The Iran-Contra investigations during the Reagan administration cost $48 million. The independent prosecutor's investigation into Clinton must also be considered in the context of an outrageously expensive American legal system. Clinton's own legal bills are in the millions of dollars. The legal bills for O.J. Simpson's murder trial almost bankrupted him of his millions. If it costs millions to defend only one individual in a high-profile American case today, how can it be outrageous for a special prosecutor to spend $10 million per year in an investigation spanning multiple states and involving dozens of individuals? Starr has not been without significant results. His investigations have resulted in 12 indictments and 13 convictions and guilty pleas, including that of the former governor of the state of Arkansas and the associate attorney general of Arkansas. Further, how can we put a price tag on justice and national honor? Bill Clinton should be pointing out these important facts to the American people, but instead he is trashing the legally-constituted prosecution.

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because he pretends that he did not lie under oath in the Paula Jones sexual harassment case. In his testimony in that case Clinton denied having "sexual relations" or an "affair" with Monica Lewinsky and said he could not remember if he had been alone with her. He continues to claim that his answers then were "legally correct" and that he did not perjure himself. Representative Paul McHale of Pennsylvania, a Democrat who has called upon Clinton to resign, is correct when he observes: "I believe there is ample evidence, overwhelming evidence, to conclude that the president certainly lied under oath. No matter how you torture the English language, you are left with the conclusion that the president of the United States under oath responded dishonestly.''

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because he has forced others (Dick Morris) to resign for moral sins arguably less outlandish than his own, yet he refuses to resign.

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because he has committed indiscretions which would force the resignation or firing of any corporate or government leader in the nation, yet he refuses to resign.

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because he has committed sins which would force the court martial of any military officer in the land, yet though he is the Commander in Chief of all U.S. armed forces and though he requires strict obedience to his commands, he refuses to resign.

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because he has led the charge of the Democrats and the liberal media against Kenneth Starr and his prosecution. He is thus chiefly responsible that large numbers of gullible Americans mistakenly and foolishly believe Ken Starr is out of control and should not be looking into the private affairs of the president. Clinton could have destroyed this myth at any time had he honestly reported to the nation that the office of the special prosecutor was wisely and properly created to prevent the president from being above the law and that he (the president), though not enjoying being the target of such an investigation, was pleased that we live in a country ruled by law and not a dictatorship or a monarchy or a mob rule democracy. Clinton could have reminded the nation that his own DEMOCRATS vigorously proposed and strongly lobbied for the independent counsel provision of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. He could have reminded the nation that his own appointee, Attorney General Janet Reno, approved the broadening of Starr’s investigation into the Monica Lewinsky affair because of evidence pointing toward possible illegal activities by the president.

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because he pretends that it is Kenneth Starr and his investigation which has grievously wounded our nation, instead of honestly admitting that it is his own sins which alone have been the culprit.

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because he pretends that grievous public sin can be corrected with a simple apology without serious consequences. Had he read the Bible he carries so visibly to church, he would have known that this is not the case. King David sinned grievously with Bathsheba, but even after David sincerely confessed his sin, God killed his son as a direct result and a curse resided upon his home the rest of his earthly life (2 Samuel 12). The mighty Samson was blinded and imprisoned for his moral indiscretions. He was forgiven and was granted one final victory over his enemies at the end of his life, but the price he paid for his sin was great (Judges 16). Moses was forgiven for his anger and disobedience in striking the rock instead of speaking to it, but he lost the desire of his heart as a direct consequence, which was to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 20:7-12). King Saul begged for forgiveness for his disobedience in the matter of the Amalekites, but God took away his kingdom anyway (1 Samuel 15). Adulterous pastors commonly lose their position because this sin is such a treacherous breach of such a holy office. God can forgive the sin, but there is still a price to be paid in this life. A drunk who crashes his automobile and destroys the lives of innocent victims can never bring those victims back to life with his confession, no matter how contrite. Likewise, there are consequences to grievous dereliction of duty which apologies cannot remove. Sin, properly confessed to God, is forgiven, but there are consequences which remain in this life.

Bill Clinton is dishonorable because while promising to give the American people the most ethical administration in history, he has, in reality, given us the most immoral, scandal ridden administration in American history.

As Dr. Robert Ross, Vice President of Oklahoma Baptist College, wisely observed in a message on August 21: "America once had a president who had the reputation that he could not lie. Today we have a president with the reputation that he cannot tell the truth."

Friends, pray for America.