The Debate Over Impeachment
By Curtis E. Jacob
October 8, 1998

I am very disappointed in those people that say Congressman should blindly go along with the polls. They declare that the Polls represent their "bosses," thus they say that Congress should reprimand the President for his behavior if need be, but not impeach him. This is an emotional response and not one supported by the Constitution.

The debate of and arguments over impeachment have been numerous. One side says that Clinton has done nothing that would be grounds for impeachment, even if he did have an affair. The other side says that perjury alone is enough for impeachment.

Well, as far as I am concerned, both sides are arguing meaningless points. The answer is as simple as two definitions. First of all, we need to take a close look at the Constitution. According to Article 2, Section 4, "The President, Vice-President, and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors".

Our first definition is of the word "Misdemeanor". Many people debate the likeliness of Impeachment on the definition of this word, yet do not know it's true definition. According to Webster's National Dictionary of the English Language, a misdemeanor is 1) evil conduct 2) a crime less than a felony. That alone should end the argument but according to the polls most people seem unwilling to impeach President Clinton because of perjury about his adultery. So we need to look at the definition of "evil conduct."

What does "evil" mean? According to the same source as before, evil means: "morally bad; wicked; sinful; unfortunate; mischievous; disastrous; worthless." Using that definition not a single person in the world could be President. So it is the Congress' duty to decide if the President has committed such evil conduct worthy of impeachment. The American people do not have a choice in this matter other than who they have elected for Congressional seats. So when the Democrats say that the Republicans are carrying this process out for election reasons we should be gratified. They have given "We the people" the chance to rule.

Yet, would you not think that a man of true integrity would step down from a role model, leadership position after such acts being revealed?

Oops, my mistake, a man of integrity wouldn't do those things in the first place.