The next step is the VP nod. The Republicans still have a wide open field with an assortment of names being bandied about. The Dems have some names being tossed around although at this point it seems assured Hillary Clinton will be nominated.

If this is the case and the Dems end with a win this election season, it will be the second time both she and former President Bill Clinton will have been part of or directly involved in an American presidency. The first time brought us some economically strong years and under the command of General Wesley Clarke the Bosnian conflict was successfully contained.

There were parts of that period which weren’t always so good. Although a bright man and exceptionally gifted orator, Bill Clinton like so many of us had flaws. Nationally we first heard this during his primary bid when allegations of sexual impropriety were leveled against him. We had heard similar allegations about other politicians in the past sometimes true, sometimes not and sometimes partially true. It is a common thing in politics and no one is surprised when such accusations are raised.

But, with President Clinton they kept coming. It seemed he had a long pattern with reported cases starting in the late seventies continuing all the way into the primaries of the 1990’s and not stopping there. For him the last of these surfaced while he was actually in office and was the final straw. What so many had been willing to dismiss was proven at once with scientific finality. It was a difficult time for the nation as we were mixed about our feelings on the issue.

Some believed it to be a family matter which should remain between his wife, his daughter and himself. Others asserted that by lying about the affair he violated the oath of his office and no longer deserved the trust of the American people. The matter didn’t stay private. During his second term in office impeachment proceedings were brought against him. He was only the second sitting President up till that time in our history to have put the country through such an event.

The proceedings divided the country. Even if all the prior allegations had been false this one was undoubtedly true. The hearings ended with an acquittal for him with voting occurring primarily down party lines. He was also sued during this time for sexual harassment by someone else and later admitted to having lied about yet another extramarital affair with Gennifer Flowers.

Although it was believed he ended his term as a lame duck president he left as one of the most popular departing president’s ever according to polls at the time. However, his legacy will always be tainted by scandals especially that involving sex with an intern in the Oval Office of White House. The evidence of the affair was irrefutable.

The legacy rocked the Democratic Party and many believe that it contributed to Al Gore’s having lost the 2000 elections. Although very well qualified, Gore specifically selected Joe Lieberman as his running mate that year to distance himself from the President and the scandal. Senator Lieberman was one of the most outspoken critics on the Democratic side against President Clinton’s extramarital affair. Gore himself characterized the scandal and the impeachment proceedings as a year long waste of time among other things.

Just before his death former President Gerald Ford said he believed President Clinton was a sex addict. He also believed the former president to be in denial about the problem and in need of treatment. As to whether he has undergone any such therapy at this point is unknown. If Hillary is selected as the Democrat’s VP hopefully he has dealt with his problem. It will be brought up again unless the Republicans have decided to allow bye gones to remain bye gones and impeachment proceedings remain stuff of the past.

Let us also hope the behavior is at an end. I like so many young American men had my period of being what comedian Steve Martin referred to as a “wild and crazy guy.” I have my share of regrets from my younger days, but learned from them, moved on and grew up.

It would be awful for the rest of this campaign season, for the next presidency and especially for the nation were another sex scandal to be a source of derision and victimization for us when right now the country needs to heal and to come together. We cannot afford anything else including the taint of that period to take away from the task of getting the change we have earned and so greatly and deserve as a country no matter who becomes president next.

To read about my inspiration for this article go to www.lawsuitagainstuconn.com.