Sex, Success, and Silliness

September 13, 1998

Let’s put the current hoopla in perspective, by taking a long-range view. Bill Clinton’s leadership has brought America to its highest-ever position of worldwide strength and respect. We are at peace. People are happy, healthy, well-educated, well-informed, and wealthier than ever.

Maybe we have too much free time. Our President has time for dalliance, and we have time to follow every detail. If we had any real problems, like enemies storming our shores, or crowds rioting for bread in our streets, this couldn’t have happened.

The dark-Starr “Special Prosecutor” tried for many years, but couldn’t find any serious errors in Clinton’s leadership. Still, the witch-hunt continued, until he finally found a trifle: Bill Clinton told a lie for love!

He knows it, and now we all know it. In Bill Clinton’s mid-life crisis, he used bad judgment in his private life. He is even more like us than we thought -- lying for love is a rather common trait, after all.

Is it a major Constitutionally Impeachable Offense? Of course not. Did Bill Clinton mis-use his Constitutional powers? Of course not. Did his “love-lie” endanger our citizens? Of course not. Congress will undoubtedly have the maturity to throw out the whole matter.

But this “summer silliness” might alter America’s political scene in dangerous, unexpected ways.

Already, skilled leaders are refusing to run for office because of their normal, but imperfect, private histories. They don’t want any job that includes a full-time snoop. We must stop the Republican Radical Religious Right from using the government to pry into the private lives of citizens in their homes. If they can do it to the President, they can do it to you and me.

There was a time in history when people were investigated by officials, and then punished for sexual activities that failed to live up to twisted religious standards. It was called The Inquisition.

We need to get back to building a strong, religion-free America.

Gentleman Jim Heldberg is National Affiliation Director for American Atheists, and lives in his favorite city, by the bay.

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