The Politics of Poison: A Tale of Two Scandals

Strategic Insights -

As the Monicagate controversy unfolds, it is striking to compare the somber crisis of Watergate to the surreal frenzy of the present day. Karl Marx's observation that "history repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce" seems eerily prophetic. While the sins that led to Nixon's downfall may not be directly comparable to Clinton's actions, the gulf between the two scandals is vast. One significant difference is the role of technology, which has catapulted the New Media into the forefront of scandal coverage, dispensing leaks with the speed of light and marinating the public in a Bill & Monica saturnalia.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Watergate scandal had a more somber tone, with more men of heroic gravitas involved, such as Sam Ervin, Howard Baker, and Judge John Sirica, whereas the Monicagate scandal has been marred by priggish figures like Ken Starr and Linda Tripp.
  • The 1998 controversy has been characterized by a more sensational and prurient tone, with a focus on the details of Clinton's personal life, whereas the Watergate scandal was more concerned with abuse of power and government corruption.
  • The current House Judiciary Committee is fragmented and polarized, with both Democrats and Republicans displaying intense partisanship, whereas the committee during the Watergate scandal was more united and serious in its approach.
  • The present-day scandals have led to a more divisive and toxic atmosphere in Congress, with many lawmakers engaging in personal attacks and mudslinging, whereas the Watergate scandal elicited a more dignified and respectful response from politicians.
  • The damage to the institution of Congress has been significant, with many lawmakers engaging in a "Politics of Poison" that has eroded trust in the government and damaged the public's perception of politicians.
  • The rate of appeals to sex and scandals in message has gone up by much more now than in both scandals; hence friend from the politician house are partly the cause.

Statistics:

  • There were 3,000 transcript pages related to the Clinton scandal in the 1998 controversy, which was only a small portion of the evidence presented to the House Judiciary Committee (Knight-Ridder/Tribune Information Services).
  • According to a Philadelphia Daily News survey, Clinton's poll ratings inexplicably shot up during the scandal, reflecting a public weariness with the extended media coverage (Philadelphia Daily News, November 1998).
  • The public confidence in Congress has declined since the early 1990s, with a 23% decline in trust from 1994 to 1999 according to a Gallup survey (Gallup Poll, September 1999).

Sources:

  • (c) 1998, Philadelphia Daily News. Visit Philadelphia Online, the World Wide Web site of the Philadelphia Daily News, at http://www.phillynews.com/
  • Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.