Monday, April 27, 1998

'Smear' tactics against Republicans?

By Joseph Spear

Republicans lost their cool a few days ago when a prominent Democrat threatened to drag some skeletons out of GOP closets if they begin to pursue Bill Clinton with too much fire and gusto.

The panic began when Bob Mulholland, a Democratic National Committee member from California, told the Washington Times he was gathering information on Republican leaders and members of the House Judiciary Committee, which would hold impeachment hearings should such proceedings be launched.

Several Republicans on the panel are divorced and records of their cases "contain some very interesting information," Mulholland said. He specifically mentioned charges of adultery.

The ink was barely dry on the story before Republicans started screaming foul. Mulholland was engaging in "smear" tactics and "gutter politics," they whined. Party Chairman Jim Nicholson insisted Democratic officials demand Mulholland's resignation. The Democrats complied, but not before Mulholland got off another round, this time on national television.

"When I see these Republicans go on television talking about Democrats and President Clinton, about family problems, family values, I just get a little outraged," he said on NBC's "Today" show. "I mean, after all, it's the Republicans, led by Newt Gingrich, Bob Dole or California Governor Pete Wilson, who all dumped their first wives for younger women. And I think that if (Georgia Congressman) Bob Barr and some of these other Republicans have had two, three or four families, then let the American people know it. That's all public record."

Having stirred up a fuss, Mulholland then backed off and declared he had accomplished his goal of getting the media to focus on Republicans and would now move on to other things.

That's too bad. I think the man is on to something, and I think he ought to continue the effort. Indeed, I think he should ask some Democratic fat cats to cough up some bucks to finance a private, nonprofit Mulholland Commission, which would be dedicated to the outing of hypocrites, phonies and pretenders. He could then call on Clinton's holier-than-thou critics and the supermoralists of the Republican party to come forward, take an oath, and answer some questions about their own private lives.

If they refuse to cooperate and "come clean," as they have so loudly demanded of Clinton, well then, it would be clear, wouldn't it, that they have something to hide?

Mind you, I personally believe all this probing of private lives is a repugnant business. But if some people are wont to wallow in it, the least that ought to be required of accusers and inquisitors is that they have clean hands themselves.

So let's hear from House Majority Leader Dick Armey, who recently pronounced Clinton a "shameless person" and declared he would resign if similarly accused. Three years ago, the Dallas Observer reported that during the 1970s, several young women at the University of North Texas objected to Professor Dick Armey's flirtatious demeanor. One took such offense at his "inappropriate behavior with female students" that she actually left school for a while. What say thee, professor?

Let's hear from Speaker Newt Gingrich, who declared the House has an "obligation" to probe Clinton's dalliances. Several of Newt's former political aides are on record as saying he cheated on his first wife. A woman named Anne Manning told Vanity Fair magazine in 1995 that she had a sexual relationship with the married Gingrich and was willing to talk to "expose his hypocrisy and abuse of power." What say thee, Newtie?

Let's hear from Dan Quayle, who repeatedly jokes that "the only person today that's willing to stand up to Bill Clinton is Paula Jones." Perhaps Dan would like a forum to explain the Florida golf outing he and two other Republican congressmen took with pneumatic lobbyist and later Playboy pinup Paula Parkinson in 1980. Dan swore he engaged in no untoward behavior, but it may not have been from lack of trying. "He was putting the moves on me," Paula later said. What say thee, Potatoe Heade?

The Mulholland Commission is an idea whose time has come. I beseech the gentleman to reconsider his retreat from the scene.

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