Clemency Decision

Although almost everyone agrees President Clinton was within his constitutional powers in granting clemency to the Puerto Rican FALN terrorists, almost everyone--Democrats and Republicans alike--also agrees it raises serious issues if he did it to help his wife’s Senate bid.

The problem with the president is that the American people can’t trust him, because they never know for sure whether he’s lying or telling the truth and he so often hides his true motivations behind the veil of executive privilege, in effect “taking the 5th.” In the blame game the president is so adept at playing, this widespread lack of trust is one area where there’s nowhere to look except in the mirror.

CURT MATSUNE

Walnut