Senator Rejects Censure Of Clinton

Sen. Arlen Specter dismissed a congressional censure of President Clinton as a gesture not “worth a tinker’s dam,” despite Republican leader Trent Lott’s suggestion that it might become necessary.

Specter’s comment on “Fox News Sunday” was the latest sign of discord among prominent Republicans over a GOP approach to the investigation of Clinton’s relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

“I don’t think a censure resolution would be worth a tinker’s dam. I don’t think the Congress is in the business of censuring the president,” Specter, R-Pa., said.

It was the second straight day that Senate Majority Leader Lott, R-Miss., had run afoul of his GOP colleagues for comments he made on CNN’s “Evans and Novak” show aired Saturday. House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Saturday disagreed with Lott’s assertion that independent counsel Kenneth Starr should “show us what he’s got” and move quickly to end the investigation.

Lott, while defending Starr from what he called “malicious, vicious attacks” from Clinton supporters, urged him to wrap up his work and “show his cards.” He also said that, lacking impeachable evidence against the president, Congress could take the lesser action of censuring him, a move that would have no legal effect.