_______________"THIS HYPOCRITE BROKE UP MY FAMILY" BY DAVID TALBOT (09/16/98)

I am a frequent reader of Salon, and do believe that there is a cross section of views presented. I have grown a bit uncomfortable that over the last few months your reporting was taking on the appearance of advocacy on behalf of President Clinton. Your article on Rep. Hyde's 30-year-old affair seemed immediately to be consistent with the "scorched earth" policy allegedly threatened by the White House. However, your statement as to why it was published had a clear message of advocacy ("when attacked"). As Salon magazine was not attacked, it is unclear as to why you would feel the need to counter with such a story. I am a registered Independent voter, and I don't believe that the Lewinsky affair should be an impeachable offense. However, this administration has created an ongoing sense of unease as a result of its use of legalisms and contorted language, far pre-dating this matter. I believe this has created a perception of deceit, and hence, a willingness to let this matter play out in the mind of the public. You damaged your credibility with your rationale. The Hyde story would have found a home somewhere in the media, but you did yourself a great disservice by making it your own. -- E. Noonan For years we have looked at our leaders and said "boys will be boys." I think the unwritten agreement to honor such a pact has led to today's headlines. As journalists (an endangered species), you have a duty to publish such stories if for no other reason than to send a message to all of our "leaders" that it is time they began behaving as civilized adults. -- Holly F. Dupre The difference is that Hyde did not perjure himself, as Clinton did. You folks are pigs -- the worst kind of trash. Hope you get tossed out along with Slick Willie. -- Christopher C. Spencer Just a word of congratulations not just for printing the Hyde story, but for your truly moving and patriotic editorial explaining why you did it. I am impressed and very proud of you and to be associated with you. -- Justin Frank Washington, D.C. Hyde must excuse himself and resign from the committee. Regardless of what is the outcome of this Clinton soap opera, there is no way he can be impartial in this case. Hyde also needs to apologize to the American public as Clinton had done. Hyde has failed the public trust. Whether the news comes from the White House or not has nothing to do with the fact that Hyde has a 5-year affair with a married woman. He broke up her family. He covered up the affair. There is nothing more disgusting than to have him sitting up there in Congress acting like the high moral God when he himself has done the same thing Clinton is accused of. As a registered Republican I also have this to say: Stop dragging the FBI into this and wasting more of our money. In any event, I have made up my mind. My vote will go to none of the Republicans come this fall. -- Simon Wu Los Angeles I agree with your decision to run the Hyde story. Since the Republicans believe that "moral authority" is essential and that it derives from conformity to their "family values," I believe that they must apply that standard to ALL politicians, including their own. I also believe that if the public has the right to know about the president's private life, there is also a right to know about the private life of those who would judge him, so that the public can evaluate the validity of the proceedings. It's good that you published the story now, because we now know that Henry Hyde is not the paragon of virtue he pretends to be (and is therefore not sufficiently trustworthy to oversee the inquiry); and the country now has a taste of what we'll all be in for. Finally, I believe the press has a responsibility to investigate every congressperson on the Judiciary Committee. (And in my fantasy, I imagine them stating under oath that they have never lied to the American people about anything.) Thanks, I'll keep reading your mag. -- Lisa Lai Piedmont, Calif. Thank you for breaking the Henry Hyde story. I think it gives us -- the American public -- yet another vivid reminder that this whole matter is not about sex. If it were, there would be an audible outcry against not only Rep. Hyde, but Dan Burton as well. Thankfully, most of us are aware of the facts. Sadly, President Clinton left the company of Hyde, Burton (and, no doubt, countless other politicians with extramarital flings) when he [allegedly] perjured himself. Put Hyde and Burton (and anyone else you can think of) in front of a grand jury. If they perjure themselves, then you have a case for lumping them in with Mr. Clinton. As it now stands, however, Mr. Clinton -- with no one to blame but himself -- is in a league of his own regarding these matters. I am a huge fan of Mr. Clinton's policies, but the country is bigger than the man. He has to resign. To stay means political hay for the Republicans. He should go quickly, and let Mr. Gore get on with the business of the country. -- Tim Manwell Yes, Hyde did have an affair 30 years ago, but did he break the law to cover it up? When it came out a few days ago, he owned up to it right away, unlike the president. So I think you are really comparing apples to oranges. -- Sharla Bond Denver I'm sure that you will receive many letters repeating the mantra "this isn't about sex." Well, we all know that it is all about sex, it's simply that Ken Starr and the Republicans have taught us the true meaning of the phrase "Making a federal case out of it." Please keep up the good work. I suspect that when this is all over your small voice will emerge as the "Woodward and Bernstein" of Monicagate. -- Patrick O'Neill Perhaps the greatest loser in this tale of ignorance, stupidity and partisanship will be journalism and its supposed standards. From the beginning the media as a whole has completely and unbelievably ignored facts and decided to indict, try and convict President Clinton. Shame on them. Shame on the New York Times, the Washington Post and all three major networks. Whatever endgame is played it is you, Salon, that have held up that grand tradition. Almost you alone. I believe that one day in the harsh, unblinking glare of history, Salon and all of its political writers (except that idiot Horowitz) will be judged as the Edward R. Murrows of this terrible human tragedy. -- Adam Friedman Despite David Talbot's best efforts at self-serving rationalization, his September 16 sexposé of Hyde's past is childishly unsavory, of dubious descent and illogical to boot. The story is certainly demeaning to his editing skills; Talbot is now wallowing in the very sty he accuses Starr and his henchmen of occupying. It is regrettable that the sexual obsessiveness of the Independent Inquisitor can be combated only by the intellectual equivalent of a cafeteria food fight. Finally, as I am sure Talbot himself is aware, only a fool would assert that Clinton is being investigated simply "because he lied about (an affair)." There are lies (like Hyde's), and then there are DAMN lies (like those occurring under oath, enjoining the Almighty's Name). "Lying and having an affair can't be separated," argues the nimble mind of Talbot. Indeed. But perjury and having an affair can and must be if the underpinnings of our judicial system have any future meaning. Both Hyde and Clinton have lied about their trysts to family, friends and constituents. But only one has unfathomably, in the age of "Unzipped," chosen to do so in the courtroom dock. -- Michael-Luther Anderson Roseville, Minn. SALON | Sept. 21, 1998

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