WI: Clinton Tells the Truth about Monica from the get go?

[Jim Smitty]

On Jan 26 1998 OTL Preisdent Bill Clinton when in front of the American Public and stated

I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."

But what would happen if he came out and said yes he did had sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky and had cheat on his wife. Would this kill the Impeachment movement that happen later in 98 and early 99? Or were the Republicans looking for blood and going to get it one way or other?

What kind of effects would this have on the election of 2000?

 

[Duke 4]

The GOP was looking for blood. They might not have got an impeachment trial, but they would have done everything possible to win what they could not win in a fair election. Plus Hillary, WOW she gets kicked in the stomach right off the back . In OTL she fought for husband and saw that was good for her.

 

[JVM]

While I think the issue comes up and is a big deal as OTL, I think it doesn't last as long and by the 2000 Election is relatively forgiven in the sense that it's not held on Gore's head by the nation or the man himself - meaning Gore doesn't pick Lieberman and might let Clinton's record help him out, instead of trying to push him away.

 

[Paul V McNutt]

The scandal does not hold the nation's attention for anywhere as long as it did OTL. Gore wins in 2000.

 

[Turek]

Like others have said -- the scandal blows over sooner, and considering that Clinton had his record high approval rating during the height of the scandal - yeah. It's a lot better for Clinton, Gore, and the Dems in general. Gore gets that extra chutzpah or whatever it's called and wins.

 

[BlondieBC]

He has a much better legacy. The impeachment movement is even weaker, but there is still a vote in the house, maybe senate. To be clear, Clinton did lie under oath and would eventually lose his law license because of this lie (perjury), but that was not what really motivated all the drama.

 

[Jim Smitty]

He has a much better legacy. The impeachment movement is even weaker, but there is still a vote in the house, maybe senate. To be clear, Clinton did lie under oath and would eventually lose his law license because of this lie (perjury), but that was not what really motivated all the drama.

I thought he didn't lie to the grand jury till after he spoke to the American people. But then again I was a 13/4 when this was happening so I wasn't paying that much attend to what was going on then.

So we have Clinton not getting impeached and Gore winning in 2000. What else would be going on in this world?

 

[BlondieBC]

I thought he didn't lie to the grand jury till after he spoke to the American people. But then again I was a 13/4 when this was happening so I wasn't paying that much attend to what was going on then.

So we have Clinton not getting impeached and Gore winning in 2000. What else would be going on in this world?

My memory is reversed from yours, but I could be wrong. And yes, Gore wins and much else is different. We get a different war after 9/11 with an outside chance 9/11 is butterflied away or made worse. People talk about the butterflies of avoiding, which is possible. But you could also have something like President Gore dying in the White House as the first plane hits there followed a minute or two later by one hitting the capitol building.

 

[Jim Smitty]

My memory is reversed from yours, but I could be wrong. And yes, Gore wins and much else is different. We get a different war after 9/11 with an outside chance 9/11 is butterflied away or made worse. People talk about the butterflies of avoiding, which is possible. But you could also have something like President Gore dying in the White House as the first plane hits there followed a minute or two later by one hitting the capitol building.

Very true. The better question would be who would Gore's Veep be and would both be in the White House on that faithful day.

 

[Corbell Mark IV]

Why is it assumed Gore wins?

OTL, Clinton was made politically stronger by the scandal, and the "over reach" of the GOP.

The dems gained ground in the mid-terms elections that normally you would have expected to go the other way, even without a scandal.

 

[docfl]

I always thought Clinton should of said this is something between my wife and I and none of your business.
Wonder how that would of gone? He didn't lie now did he?
Docfl

 

[Pesterfield]

I wonder if he could have turned it around in anyway, found a way to start bringing in Republic sexual hypocrisy.

 

[V-J]

Why is it assumed Gore wins?

OTL, Clinton was made politically stronger by the scandal, and the "over reach" of the GOP.

The dems gained ground in the mid-terms elections that normally you would have expected to go the other way, even without a scandal.

True, and the same goes for Gore too. But it also lead to the GOP looking for an antidote to the foibles of the Congressional wing. That resulted in most of the party, and almost all the state governors, coalescing around a certain G. Dubya. Without impeachment, the 2000 primaries for both parties will be quite different, and, for the GOP, with not a necessarily better outcome.

 

[BlairWitch749]

he couldn't admit it... the whole reason he was being asked about it in the first place was because of the paula jones sexual harassment lawsuit

going and admitting that he had an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate basically convicts himself AND monica of perjury before a grand jury; because both had sworn under oath that they were not having an affair

clinton was able to get out of this by parsing the definition of sexual relations AND paying paula jones 800k to settle out of court; and surrendering his law license for misleading a grand jury

the only way he can cop to the truth is if the paula jones suit gets settled earlier (before Monica is deposed); then in theory he has nothing legally to lose admitting it if Matt Drudge still get's newsweeks source material; but the context would be... clinton settles sexual harassment lawsuit for big bucks, then clinton is caught getting blowjobs from a 23 year old intern


the biggest mistake the republicans made was focusing on the perjury which was borderline... they had him and panetta dead to rights on Monica's transfer to the pentagon coupled with big raise/increase in benefits; once you are giving money via the power of your office to your mistress you are dead; just ask spitzer and mcgreavy;

 

[Turek]

Gore wins because IOTL he was afraid of relying on Clinton's legacy, mostly because of Monica - if you butterfly that, even if Clinton is politically weaker, he's still good enough to get Gore elected.

 

[BlairWitch749]

Gore wins because IOTL he was afraid of relying on Clinton's legacy, mostly because of Monica - if you butterfly that, even if Clinton is politically weaker, he's still good enough to get Gore elected.

how does the OP change that situation

Clinton will still have settled a sexual harassment lawsuit and been through the ringer with an embarrassing affair

 

[Derek Jackson]

The point about the MOnica thing was that she never alleged he pressured her into sexual acts. It was imoral but NOT harrassment