Clinton set a precedent for misconduct within the office of head of state. Global 'butterfly effect' is displaying itself as scandal plagued leaders trumpet his example.
Precedents Elect: Bill Clinton, Monicagate and the wannabe 3rd World Leader.
Quick Definition (Precedent) noun: an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time.
Quick Definition(President) noun: the person who holds the office of head of state of the government.
Just when you think enough has been said about Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinski, a lesson appears like a ghost from Christmas past, to haunt you.
Recent reports in South Africa open fresh wounds created by the now broadly forgiven misconduct of a much loved ‘rough diamond’ peoples' president, and now prominent international figure, Bill Clinton.
Clinton has been described as many things from many different viewpoints, but it is interesting to note that from a social perspective, Bill Clinton is rated and regarded more highly than any US president within the last 70 years, albeit he did wander a bit wayward.
This is the President that smoked marijuana but ‘did not inhale’ and strung together scandals suitable for an ‘MTV’ superstar, a Paris Hilton or Brangelina.
Clinton's job approval rating varied over the course of his first term, ranging from a low of 36 percent to a high of 64 percent in late-1993. Clinton's approval rating reached its highest point at 73 percent approval in the aftermath of the impeachment proceedings in 1998 and 1999. A CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup poll conducted as he was leaving office, revealed deeply contradictory attitudes regarding Clinton. However his approval rating at 68 percent was higher than that of any other departing president since polling began more than seventy years earlier.
In May 2006 a CNN poll comparing Clinton's job performance with that of George W. Bush, found a majority of respondents felt Clinton outperformed Bush on every single issue in question.
Nobel prize-winning author Toni Morrison in 1998 called Clinton "the first Black president," saying "Clinton displays almost every trope of blackness - single-parent household, born poor, working-class, saxophone-playing, McDonald's-and-junk-food-loving boy from Arkansas," and, despite his career accomplishments, comparing Clinton's scrutinized sex life to the stereotyping and double standards that blacks typically endure.
Also in 2006 Clinton was awarded the Fulbright prize for International Understanding.
Well? The recent events in South African party politics beg a different ‘understanding’. This understanding is of the impact of actions as precedent within the minds of people justifying similar misconduct. I wonder if Mr Clinton could walk away with accolades for understanding on that count.
Patrick Craven, the trade unions’ spokesman on behalf of the South African president recently commented in the Jacob Zuma scandal, stating, "As for Mr. Zuma’s legal and ethical problems, it’s quite clear he’s not a saintl ike figure, but what politician is? You’re familiar with the Bill Clinton case, aren’t you?"
He quite rightly refers here to the very President impeached for possible perjury and subornation of perjury, Bill Clinton.
Jacob Zuma is the South African peoples candidate, a la Bill Clinton, a potent potential successor to Nelson Mandela and current President Thabo Mbeki. He is plagued by scandal, that includes serious allegations of rape and corruption. However, as the spokesman for the trade unions who strongly back the Labour orientated candidate puts it, "we stand by our man."
When the developing world looks for role-models and precedents, those provided by the leading nations of the world are a pretty dismal selection.
The butterfly-effect spin-off from the actions of those in global leadership positions might call for harsh punitive measures at the polls while people distance themselves from condoning misconduct.
Billy, you're still a bad boy !
