(8/18/98)
California's U.S. senators had starkly contrasting reactions Tuesday to President Clinton's admission that he had a ``wrong'' relationship with a former White House intern.
Both Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer commiserated with Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Clinton's daughter, Chelsea. But the similarities ended there.
Feinstein issued an emotional, scathing statement that spoke of personal betrayal.
``I was present in the Roosevelt room in January when the President categorically denied any sexual involvement with Monica Lewinsky,'' Feinstein said. ``I believed him. His remarks last evening left me with a deep sense of sadness in that my trust in his credibility has been badly shattered. My heart and thoughts go out to the First Lady and Chelsea.''
Feinstein continued, ``I do not know whether the president's remarks bring this most unfortunate period to an end. But I do know there are serious problems facing the nation both domestically and abroad. They need to be addressed and there is limited time remaining in this congressional session to do so. I very much hope that we can now concentrate on matters of important public policy.''
Boxer, who is running for re-election in November and is tied to the Clinton family by marriage, had a far more muted response.
``President Clinton was right to take full responsibility for his relationship with Monica Lewinsky,'' she said in a terse, three-sentence statement. ``Clearly, he was wrong to have that relationship in the first place. I feel great empathy for the president's wife and daughter as they come together to deal with this as a family.''
Boxer, who built her political career as an outspoken women's advocate, said in an interview that Clinton's admission made her ``sad,'' and that he should have spoken out earlier.
``Do I wish he told the truth sooner? Yes,'' the senator said by telephone from an airplane.
Unlike Feinstein, however, Boxer drew a distinction between Clinton's personal and political credibility, and defended him as an effective leader.
``In terms of his private life, his credibility is undermined,'' Boxer said. ``In terms of public policy and what he's done for the country, he's led us out of one of the deepest recessions we've ever been, he's balanced the budget for the first time in 30 years, and we're in very good economic times because of his leadership on public policy. It's time for healing -- time for the family to heal, for the nation to heal. We have work to do.'' Boxer's daughter is married to Hillary Clinton's brother, Hugh Rodham.
This disagreement marks the first occasion Boxer and Feinstein have not been in accord since their college days, when Boxer said ``spit'' and Feinstein said ``swallow.''