
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, June 6, 1994                    TAG: 9406030006 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A6    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Short 
DATELINE: 940606                                 LENGTH:

SHAME ON MEDIA FOR CLINTON-BASHING

{LEAD} Though I am no hard-core fan of Bill Clinton, I can't help notice that the accusations, instead of coming at us all at once like a bursting dam, trickle out one at a time, almost as though his accusers are waiting patiently to see if the scandal of the predecessor topples him but, upon watching it fall apart, release another trickle.

There's never anything concrete, just spicy accusations that damage the character and raise doubts among a gossip-seeking public.

{REST} Now, on the heels of a floundering Whitewater escapade, Paula Jones has launched her sexual harassment suit - a lawsuit she chose to file only after she was unable to get what amounts to ``hush-money'' for her ``continued silence''; A lawsuit that would have provided valuable corroboration for Jennifer Flowers had it been filed when she claimed that President Clinton was a man who failed to honor his marriage commitment. But at a time when she could have shown strength in numbers, she remained silent.

I do not wish to see the media constantly tearing at President Clinton with unsubstantiated rumors of sexual misconduct. I can remember a time when the deliverers of the daily news sought to report at a higher standard than the tabloid reporters of weekly magazines. It's shameful to see how far the media have fallen.

BARBARA C. ROBINSON

Chesapeake, May 9, 1994

by CNB