When Bill Clinton first came in to office back in 1992 he claimed to carry the hopes and aspirations of millions of working people - both black and white, and all those who had been marginalised by the successive right wing Republican regimes of Reagan and Bush. One by one any hopes have been dashed - on welfare, healthcare and education, Clinton has sided with the rich and the conservative every time, his phony ‘third way’ philosophy little more than warmed up Republicanism.
Now, with the threat of impeachment over the Monica Lewinsky affair hanging over his head, his presidency will be even more ineffective than before. The Republicans are not going to let the issue die. On the contrary, they will spin things out for as long as possible, seeking the maximum political advantage. However, they are playing a dangerous game. Given the general feeling of disgust with the whole issue, this could rebound on the Republicans.
Although there is much talk about Clinton’s impeachment being similar to the Watergate scandal, in reality Nixon’s resignation in 1974 was the result of a different set of circumstances. The presidency had taken on so much power that the Administration had become increasingly independent of the ruling class. Nixon’s military adventure in South Asia, the secret bombing of Cambodia, the clandestine bugging of the Democratic Party, were all illustrations that the Administration was "out of control." The Watergate scandal was used to get rid of Nixon, and bring the office of president to heel.
The present clash surrounding Clinton has different roots, arising from the clique politics of both capitalist parties. Nevertheless, given the bitterness from the allegations and counter-allegations, it could not be ruled out that Clinton could still be forced to resign.
The scandal could not have come at a worse time for the American ruling class, with the economy slowing down, the acute volatility affecting Wall Street, and the world economy teetering on the edge of a deep slump. "America and the world at large have already suffered many months of this", states The Economist. "They are crying out for the president’s concentrated attention. People may not care that he is a philanderer, but they cannot afford his distraction." (19th September 1998)
Clique politics
The episode - and the resulting struggle - arises from the clique politics of the two capitalist parties, the Republicans and Democrats. Their fundamental interests are the same in representing the needs of American capitalism at home and abroad. But these parties - the Tweedledee, Tweedledum of US politics - nevertheless have their own separate interests to think about, especially of how best to get their noses in the pig- trough. Consequently, the Republican politicians are eager to discredit Clinton and the Democrats in the run up to mid-term elections in early November and the Presidential race in the year 2000. With the press screaming for his resignation, Clinton seems to be fighting for his political life. One thing is clear: he won’t depart from the scene quietly or without a fight.
The whole sordid sex scandal reeks of hypocrisy. Under capitalism, lies, deceit, and corruption are the stock-in-trade of bourgeois diplomacy. They are also reflected in bourgeois personal relations, especially at the tops of society. Like their counterparts in Britain, capitalist politicians are deeply embroiled behind closed doors in "extra-martial relations," intrigues and other antics. The whole "moral crusade," so prevalent amongst rightwing American and British politicians, is a complete facade. All their talk about "the family" is pure hypocrisy, especially as they carry through policies that undermine the family.
In the US in particular, where "market relations" have sunk deep roots, relations at the tops of society are coloured by power, influence, cronyism and above all money. As the old saying goes: "money talks." Human relations are reduced to dollar terms. On Wall Street, the epitome of American capitalism, where bonuses are bigger than the national debt, sexual intimidation and harassment by male brokers against clerical workers is widespread. Earlier this year, Wall Street brokerage firms were shaken rigid when the chairman and chief executive of Lew Lieberbaum & Co. agreed to pay $1.75 million to settle a sexual and harassment and discrimination suit brought by 17 former employees - the second highest out-of-court settlement for harassment. The whole thing stinks. It represents a cess-pit of intrigue, sex scandals, back-stabbing and the like - all the way up to the White House, the centre of American government. Bourgeois morality is in complete crisis.
In an endless saga, the Democrats, in order to draw fire from the conduct of the President, have leaked personal details on the sordid private lives of Republican leaders. Relations within the ruling circles have become extremely bitter. The aim has become to inflict the maximum damage on their political opponents.
Clinton is at the receiving end, but he is a very slick operator. He has repeatedly lied through his teeth under oath, and then changed his story to suit his objectives. "At the famous prayer-breakfast on September 11th", observes The Economist, "at which he spoke of his sin and his ‘broken spirit’, the cameras caught him peeping around in the middle of his prayers, as if to check that everyone was watching. This is a consummate politician who knows exactly what strings, including heartstrings, he must pull to stay in office." He still hopes to out-manoeuvre his opponents, by calling in favours, and by appealing to public opinion. He is seeking a final settlement - a cash deal - with Paula Jones over the remaining aspects of her sexual harassment legal actions against him.
Forgiveness
Church leaders have rushed in to forgive the sins of the president. He in turn has asked for forgiveness. World leaders have fallen over themselves to back Clinton - starting with Tony Blair. He also received the dubious backing of Yeltsin in Moscow, who referred to Warsaw as the capital of the United States! Old friends have to stick together, for fear that the political crisis will get out of hand. That is what terrifies them more than anything. At a time of deepening world recession, Russia is in deep crisis with a drunken buffoon at its head, while the USA has a leader embroiled in a sex scandal. Even if Clinton manages to survive the political crisis that has engulfed his administration, he will come out of this mess enormously weakened.
This political turmoil and fratricide between the representatives of capital reflects the rottenness of the system. It will serve to reinforce the widespread opinion that "all these politicians are crooks." Political scandals, if allowed to get out of hand, can threaten to undermine the whole establishment. "The result is a grounds-well of public anger and fear for the future of the republic such as I haven’t seen since Vietnam", observes Carol Tavis in the Los Angeles Times (23/9/98).
But a section of the ruling class also sees it as a diversion from the real issues. "When a ruling establishment will not let daylight in on their workings because they own the media as well as the permanent rental of most of Congress, judiciary and executive," states the American essayist, Gore Vidal, "that doesn’t leave much to talk about at election time except sex, the flag, the foetus and, in the good old days, Communism. So the fact that Clinton’s sex life is now central to our political discourse is par for the current course." (Guardian, 25/1/98)
In the past in Britain the ruling class was very adept at covering over any differences they had, for fear that a third party - the working class - was looking in. This could only undermine the authority of those who were "destined to rule." In the US the squabble at the top will serve to turn workers increasingly away from the two party system.
The opinion polls indicate people are fed-up with tales of Clinton’s sex life. It has become increasingly a distraction from the real concerns that dominate their lives. In a recent CNN opinion poll revealed that a mere 20 per cent wanted more information on the scandals. There are other more pressing problems. In the United States, living standards are continuing to fall for the majority. Recent figures show that workers have lost out in the boom. The real earnings of the average worker last year were still 3.1 per cent lower than in 1989. As the same time, the earnings of the average chief executive doubled to a level of 116 times that of the average worker. There is also growing dissatisfaction over speed-ups, downsizing, out-sourcing, and the general intensification of work. This gave rise to the strike at UPS, General Motors and, more recently, at Northwest Airlines.
This situation can provide the American labour movement with an opportunity to put forward the real class issues - as an alternative to the two big business parties. Above all, it can be a big opportunity for the newly-formed US Labor Party. Its second convention in November will be debating whether to stand independent Labour candidates. Given the fall-out from the scandals, the idea of an independent party of labour representing the interests of the American working class can take on a great attraction.
IT sector
The developing world crisis of capitalism will hit America hard. The main driving force of recent growth in the American economy was the IT sector, employing over 9 million workers. This sector will be especially hard hit, and have a knock-on effect right throughout the economy. This will shatter the illusions in the "market" in the USA. A slump will precipitate a collapse on Wall Street, or vice versa, and will deeply affect those 100 million Americans that currently hold shares.
The slump will provoke deeper political turmoil. The trade union leaders will be under pressure from a radicalised working class. The Democrats will be found wanting on the basis of this crisis. Demands for independent political working class representation will grow. Under these conditions, the American Labor Party can grow enormously. It will break the political log-jam.
Very quickly American workers, who have a very militant tradition, will be seeking out a programme that reflects their needs. The impasse of capitalism will pose the question of a new society where the evils of mass unemployment, poverty and exploitation can be eradicated. A socialist America would transform the world.