Michael Isikoff, investigative reporter for Newsweek has been
promoting his book, ``Uncovering Clinton''. In it he writes, ``I
realized something that should have been apparent to me much
earlier. I was in the middle of a plot to get the President.'' He
lays this conspiracy at the feet of literary agent Lucianne
Goldberg and Linda Tripp, two women he claims were determined to
topple Clinton's presidency.
During his many interviews, Isikoff portrays himself as just a
simple investigative journalist doing his job who finds himself
embroiled in the devious machinations of a small right-wing
conspiracy. Ironically, Isikoff concludes in his tome that
Clinton is a brazen liar with serious psychological problems
rendering him unfit for the presidency. That this conclusion
inadvertently justifies the motives of Clinton's adversaries is
not something that Isikoff chooses to address.
Clinton's flaws, however, are not the primary focus on his book
tour because what seems to be the central point of discussion is
the extent of Linda Tripp's ``betrayal'' of Monica Lewinsky. Now,
I had watched Ms. Tripp on Sunday with Cokie Roberts and Sam
Donaldson and she came across as quite credible yet the following
day one newspaper reported that she is still, ``the most hated
woman in America.'' She has been caricatured by John Goodman on
``Saturday Night Live'' and ridiculed by late night show hosts
but could she really be despised this much?
Out of curiosity, I decided to conduct my own personal survey to
find out if this was indeed the case. I interviewed family, close
friends and acquaintances, both liberal Democrats and
conservative Republican and all had pretty much the same opinion.
My typical interview went like this:
Q. What do you think of Linda Tripp
A. She's ugly and a terrible friend.
Q. Well, do you know all the facts about why she taped Monica?
A. It doesn't matter. I would never do this to a friend.
Q. What if Monica was trying to get her to lie under oath?
A. She should have gone to the police or better yet, the
newspapers.
Q. But the president's lawyer had already called her a liar and
discredited her.
A. Baloney! She just wanted to be famous and to write a book.
Q. Well lets pretend that you're a single mother with a good job,
which you're afraid of losing but you're being asked to break the
law. What would you do?
A. I'd quit and go on welfare before I'd do that to my friend.
Q. Don't you think there are some people who believe that when
things are wrong in the government they should be reported?
A. Well, they're stupid. I'd mind my own business and not make
waves.
I had expected a negative reaction from the liberals but I found
that even my conservative acquaintances were uncomfortable with
Linda. They thought that in some of the tapes she sounded like
she was manipulating Monica.
Since I had not heard the tapes, I researched a transcript of an
interview with Linda on the Today Show in which she responded to
this charge. She said that for an entire year Monica had confided
to her in excruciating detail her affair with the president. She
had not taken notes and the taping was only documenting
information that she had already heard.
Regardless of any possible explanations, most of those questioned
would not be dissuaded from their position. They kept mentioning
the importance of friendship and not ``ratting'' on a close
friend. I guess I have a different reaction to this so-called
betrayal because of an incident involving two of my high school
friends, Emma and Veronica.
These two girls were close friends even though they were complete
opposites. Emma came from a dysfunctional family and had become a
bit of a gold digger who accepted favors from older men. Veronica
on the other hand was a total innocent but she still enjoyed her
friend's company. Their friendship ended abruptly one evening
after Emma invited Veronica to dinner at one of her male friend's
apartment. She also whispered to Veronica that her friend would
be willing to pay Veronica for sexual favors. Veronica was
shocked and told me of the incident the following day still
bristling from Emma's betrayal.
Just as Emma had no right to act as courier for that obscene
request on behalf of her male friend neither did Monica have the
right to persuade Linda Tripp to commit perjury on behalf of the
president. True friendship goes both ways but so can betrayal.
Perhaps if Linda and Monica were really lifelong friends I might
be more critical of the taping. But they were instead working
colleagues who had developed an unlikely intimate relationship.
Perhaps the public might perceive things differently if they'd
ask themselves what precautionary actions they'd take if a
co-worker asked them to commit a felony. Am I the only one who
considers Linda's actions not only reasonable but also smart?
I know that she only started the Monica tapings after Michael
Isikoff came to interview her about the Kathleen Willey incident.
Linda confirmed that Kathleen had indeed been to see the
president and appeared disheveled afterward. When her version was
published in Newsweek a denial was issued from the White House
and the president's lawyer, Bob Bennett, labeled her a liar. She
also landed on a list of possible witnesses in the Paula Jones
case against the president. Thank you, Michael.
I also know that Isikoff was the first reporter to interview
Paula Jones and the first reporter to pursue Kathleen Willey.
That's why it's so amusing to hear Mr. Isikoff act like he was
morally above the fray when he was the impetus of it all.
I also think it's ironic that the one person who's always being
accused of having wanted a book deal has yet to write her side of
the story. Conversely,Monica Lewinsky, George Stephanopoulos,
Michael Isikoff and many others are raking in millions off this
tawdry tale with lavish book deals. I think I'll save my money
and wait for Linda's version.