BY SAUNDRA AMRHEIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
![[francis]](/editions/1998/09/17/francis_150x131.jpg)
'I can't see that hanging Clinton at this point would pull this country ... out of the complete moral mess we've let ourselves slide into.'
- June Francis, 67
Norwood
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They quoted the Bible, they quoted Dr. Seuss, they even quoted you. Cincinnatians are angry and disappointed with the mess you're in. People here are upset that you apparently lied about your relationship with Monica Lewinsky. Lied to friends and colleagues. Lied to your wife and daughter. And lied to the American people.
A lot of people think you should leave office. Others say they and the country should forgive you and move on.
People throughout Greater Cincinnati sent you their feelings and advice by letters, faxes and e-mail. They were responding to an invitation from The Enquirer to send you a message during your visit today.
The Enquirer asked readers to imagine they shared a short limousine ride with you and during the ride, you asked, "What's on your mind?"
In all, 1,464 people answered.
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READERS' MESSAGES
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They ranged from anger to compassion. Click here to see hundreds of responses from readers who were asked to send a message to President Clinton.
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No matter which side people took, their feelings were strong and personal. Many were angry. Others forgave you, admitting they too had made mistakes. People wanted to hug you. People wanted to slap you. Some wanted to kick you out of the limousine.
Most of the letters and faxes came from people your age or older. Three out of four said you've got to go. People who responded via e-mail, many of them younger than you, were more forgiving. A smaller percentage said you should call it quits.
![[riggins]](/editions/1998/09/17/riggins_150x132.jpg)
'If you are truly sincere about loving this country, you will resign to spare ... the trauma and loss of governmental focus over the long term.'
- Donovan Riggins, 55
West Chester
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We know this wasn't a scientific poll. And the strong negative reaction may not surprise you considering the area's conservative roots and Republican voting record. But hundreds of people here did take that imaginary moment with you in the limousine to share what's on their minds.
"Dear Mr. President, Please don't quit," wrote J.R. Strickley, 55, of Burlington, Ky. "I, too, am a sinner and the stones at my feet are not for casting, but I will help you to mold them into a new foundation of love for all those we have hurt. None of us plan to fail but we do fail to plan. Forgiveness."
Some were forgiving by way of blaming others, whether Ms. Lewinsky, Republicans or independent counsel Kenneth Starr.
"Although what you have done is scandalous," wrote Glenn "Rocky" Woods, 51, of Northside, "I feel that the majority of the American people feel that this issue should have remained between you, your family, your minister, your maker and Monica."
"Obviously, it was part of a larger plan. You were set up! How ethical is that?"
For others, the immorality of a married man having sex with an intern overrides the legal wrangling.
"How does one in public life separate personal behavior from your duties as a president?" wrote B. Vincent Salotto, 78, of Anderson Township. "I believe the two cannot be separated. One reflects on the other and the other reflects on the one."
![[woods]](/editions/1998/09/17/woods_150x132.jpg)
'You were set up. I hope we, as Americans, can quit moralizing and let you get on with the most important job on the planet.'
- Glenn 'Rocky' Woods, 51
Northside
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A small number of people made no mention at all of the scandal. On their limousine ride with you, they want to focus on other issues.
"What can we do as a country to lure and win back our heavy manufacturing industries (from foreign countries), which were, and are, the backbone of our economy," asked June Francis, 67, of Norwood. "Americans are trying to "hold' our economy together on service and assembly jobs with part-time and temporary jobs. This is a long-term question that we should answer."
"Social Security needs attention," said Evelyn J. Purdy of Falmouth, Ky. "The medical field needs immediate care. Please get down to fixing these matters and stay out of trouble."
The main issue
But the issue that dominated was you and your lack of honesty.
"We ordinary Americans do not embrace the distinction that engaging in oral sex is not the same as having a sexual relationship," wrote Steve McCamley, 43, of Anderson Township."Stop insulting the intelligence of the American people. Is it called oral non-sex, Bill? No, it is called oral sex because it is sex. You lied about the draft, you lied about marijuana, and now you lie about Monica Lewinsky. Will you ever stop lying?"
Jerry Hawk, 50, of Green Township, wrote: "What you did as a father and husband disgusts me to no end. To lie for seven months and use other people to smear and lie for you is to me cause for your resignation or dismissal (impeachment)."
Parents wrote, disturbed about the example you're setting for their children.
"If you could not resist temptation, how can any of us expect the children to resist temptation," wrote Charlotte Hunter, 51, of Forest Park.
![[hunter]](/editions/1998/09/17/hunter_150x132.jpg)
'If you could not resist temptation, how could any of us expect the children to resist temptation?'
- Charlotte Hunter, 51
Forest Park
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"There is no doubt that because of my unchanging love for my children, that I would find forgiveness for most anything they did," said Winnie House, 44, of West Chester. "But, out of the same love, I taught them early on that if they break the law, that the sure consequence is jail time... Please do not sacrifice our country and truth, Mr. President."
To be fair, Mr. President, there may be more supporters in Greater Cincinnati than this write-in reveals. University of Cincinnati political science professor George Bishop specializes in public opinion research. He says write-ins attract critical responses. "It's not an easy situation for those who think he should stay in office to come forward."
Mr. Bishop doubts Greater Cincinnati is much different from the country as a whole. "I suspect (scientific) polls locally would reflect the national polls, with a little more negative input reflecting the Republican nature of the region."
But, again, on this Cincinnati limousine ride, you will hear some pretty stern rebukes. They say you are unfit to lead.
Moral question
Jennifer Weber, 19, a student at Miami University in Oxford wrote asking, "How can you (Clinton) stand for a moral and ethical country that wants to rid drugs from our streets, strengthen our families, communities, and help people live the American dream when you are the epitome of America's problems in those areas."
![[weber]](/editions/1998/09/17/weber_150x128.jpg)
'How can you stand for a moral and ethical country ... and help people live the American dream when you are the epitome of America's problems?'
- Jennifer Weber, 19
Oxford
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"If you are truly sincere about loving this country," wrote Donovan Riggins, 55, of West Chester, "you will resign to spare the institution, its people and their values, the trauma and loss of governmental focus over the long term."
"I believe that what has been printed so far has only scratched the surface of your acts of irresponsibility," wrote Mary Jane Abraham, 65, of Anderson Township. "As our elected CEO you should resign, as would be the fate of any other corporate CEO."
Kenwood parent Jackie MacCoy framed advice by way of a quote from her 3-year-old's Dr. Seuss book, Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now.
""If you wish, you may go by lion's tail.
Or stamp yourself and go by mail.
Marvin K. Mooney! Don't you know,
The time has come to go, GO, GO!!!'
(You may substitute your name for Marvin's.)"
