So Bill has finally owned up to an "inappropriate relationship". His popularity ratings have increased after his confession, a sign that while the American public may enjoy the peep show, they are unwilling to judge the president on the strength of his sexual misadventures. That should serve Clinton well in the months ahead, as there is every likelihood that his enemies will spare no effort to try and impeach him. Were that to happen, however, the ongoing farce, which has spawned entire websites dedicated to Clinton jokes, would quickly become a tragedy.There has been much breast-beating in the American media about the acres of newsprint and miles of film devoted to l'affaire Lewinsky, most of it based on the premise that there are much more important matters to talk about. But there is little evidence that the stress and strain of the investigation has affected Clinton's work as president. His recent visit to China, for example, was a great success.
Clinton's surge in popularity ratings confirms that most Americans view the affair as little more than light entertainment, yet another soap-opera based, as most such serials seem to be based, on the eternal triangle. "Serial" seems the mot juste here, given the fact that this is not Clinton's first sexual peccadillo, nor his first confession.
But as Clinton pointed out in his little soundbyte (co-authored by Hillary) to the American people, it is after all, a private matter between him, his family and God. The question, therefore, boils down to whether people holding high positions are entitled to a private life.
The answer to that question is largely a matter of culture. The French, for example, would not have batted an eyelid, which is why Mitterand's visits to his mistress were deemed scarcely newsworthy. In India, on the other hand, while politicians may lie, swindle and cheat, any sign of libido is strictly taboo. We could do with our own Bill and Monica.
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