Editorials
Monday, December 23, 1996
Gingrich should step down
as speaker
NEWT Gingrich should take the same advice he gave Jim Wright in 1989 and step down as speaker of the House of Representatives. Like Democrat Wright, Republican Gingrich has admitted to violating House rules on ethics. This is a very serious matter. The House cannot be led by a man who has deceived a congressional committee regarding use of tax-exempt contributions to a supposedly educational program for political purposes.
Other Republican congressional leaders who have rallied around Gingrich and are pushing for his re-election as speaker are making a grave mistake. Gingrich's credibility has been irreparably damaged. He cannot function effectively in the speakership, one of the most powerful positions in the federal government.
For many months Gingrich had insisted that the charges against him were a politically inspired "fishing expedition" that would produce nothing incriminating. His abrupt reversal of position to an admission of guilt must mean he knew that the committee would soon rule against him and he is trying to cut his losses. But his claim that he did not intend to mislead the committee cannot be believed and should not enable him to escape punishment.
For months after the 1994 elections that swept the Republicans into control of the House for the first time in 40 years, Gingrich's power seemed second only to President Clinton's, and at times he even seemed to eclipse the president, who found himself forced to insist that he was still relevant to the national dialogue.
But the speaker soon self-destructed with reckless and outrageous remarks that revealed an immature streak. The partial shutdowns of the government a year ago in the budget battle between the White House and Congress were largely blamed on Gingrich and further damaged his public image.
But the speaker's gaffes might have been forgiven in time. There is no possibility of forgiveness of his violations of campaign finance rules and his brazen deception.
The Republican cause is bigger than Gingrich or any other single leader, although the speaker did have much to do with the GOP resurgence in the House. His usefulness has been destroyed by his failure to comply with the law. Now he should step down and let another Republican leader - one with clean hands and untarnished credibility - assume the speakership.
Pakistan’s politics
THE arrest of the husband of Benazir Bhutto on a charge of murdering her brother has substantially worsened the plight of the ousted Pakistani prime minister. The charge was filed last week against Asif Ali Zardari, who had been in custody since his wife's government was dismissed by Pakistan's president in November. A former intelligence chief also has been charged with murder in the killing, and several policemen have been arrested but not charged.
Her brother's murder and her husband's arrest raise the prospect that she too could face criminal charges. This is not what Bhutto's admirers in the West had expected.
Building approvals
GOVERNOR Cayetano encountered some skeptics when he told Maui contractors about his proposal to spend $1 billion in two years to stimulate the construction industry. The contractors said they had heard that story about speeding up government processing of permits before. But they liked what the governor is trying to do.
Cayetano said he has obtained commitments from his department heads to expedite processing. But to obtain results, he will have to keep pushing. There is a lot of inertia to overcome.
Carl Sagan
CARL Sagan, who died Friday at age 62, was a distinguished astronomer. What set him apart from other scientists, however, was his ability to capture the imagination of non-scientists - an ability sorely needed in a world in which ignorance of science is the norm.
Sagan's enthusiasm was contagious, inspiring untold millions. The world needs more teachers like him.
Published by Liberty Newspapers Limited Partnership
Rupert E. Phillips, CEO
John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher
David Shapiro, Managing Editor
Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor
Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors
A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor