BY PATRICK CROWLEY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON -- With the nation poised to see President Clinton's videotaped grand jury testimony, the case is about to be judged in the court of public opinion, U.S. Sen. Wendell Ford of Kentucky said Saturday night.
"It's beyond legal aspects now, and I think it's in the hands of the constituents," Mr. Ford, a four-term Democrat from Owensboro, said prior to a reception in his honor.
"And as the constituents see the material and hear the debate they will be advising their congressman about what they feel, and I think that will be the deciding factor," he said.
The House Judiciary Committee voted Friday to release not just Mr. Clinton's four-hour grand jury testimony, but also nearly 3,000 pages of evidence -- some of it sexually explicit -- and grand jury testimony from Monica Lewinsky, the former White House intern. The material will be made public on Monday and could provide the evidence and political fodder for impeachment hearings that could soon begin in Congress.
The new information follows last week's release of independent counsel Kenneth Starr's report to Congress, which was laced with tawdry details of nearly a dozen sexual encounters between the president and Ms. Lewinsky.
"I don't know how people are going to take it," Mr. Ford said. "It seems like it's something every day, and it seems like it's been a premeditated effort. It's very, very distasteful for me and the American people."
Mr. Ford, who is retiring this year, was in Covington to attend a tribute given by the Northern Kentucky Young Democrats.
The event was held at the Amos Shinkle Townhouse, the Garrard Street bed and breakfast owned by Kenton County Commissioner Bernie Moorman.
Several Democratic officials and candidates on the ballot this November attended, including 4th District congressional candidate Ken Lucas of Richwood, Kenton County Magistrate Steve Hoffman, Kenton County Surveyor Jimmy Williams, Kenton County Democratic Party Chairwoman Shirley Huelsmann and Campbell County Commissioners Dave Otto and Roland Vories, both of Fort Thomas.
Asked if Mr. Clinton's problems will hurt Democrats at the polls, Mr. Ford said, "I think it has to have some effect."
But he also said there could be a backlash against Mr. Starr and the Republicans, who could be seen by voters as on a witch hunt.
"You can overplay your hand, you can overrun the rabbit," Mr. Ford said. "It's gone on a long time. After $50 million and four years, you can make anybody look bad.
"We can't let this override our decisions for those that are better qualified to represent us in Washington, or here on the local level," he said.
Mark Roberts, 25, a member of the Young Democrats from Florence, said he fears the Clinton scandal will keep some people from voting in November.
"But I hope people see that releasing the report and now releasing the videotape have been politically motivated," said Mr. Roberts, who works for a Cincinnati investment firm.
The scandal could actually inspire people to vote for Democrats, said Tom Ratterman, 24, of Newport, the Young Democrats' president and a member of the Student Government Council at Northern Kentucky University.
"It's fired me up," Mr. Ratterman said. "The whole thing with releasing the tape is absurd, and I think people are starting to see that."
