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Gary Condit ---- Guilty or Innocent? |
"…I am not perfect and have made my share of mistakes," repeated seven-term Congressman, Gary Condit (D - CA) to interviewer Connie Chung on the August 23 edition of ABC's "Prime Time Thursday." This wasn't the first time that the politician of roughly thirty years had restated this irrelevant comment to the simple question, "What was your relationship with Chandra Levy?" These evasive, curt and occasionally falsified answers dug Condit even deeper into the public relations grave he was so desperately trying to escape. Junior, Daniel Adomian critiqued, "I think Condit's general ambiguity throughout the whole incident is an indication of his guilt. And his own party abandoning him simply gives more incriminating evidence."
Washington, D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey was extremely disturbed by Condit's first interview since 24 year-old Levy's disappearance on April 30. "We said all the time we didn't think he was forthcoming in all those [police] interviews," stated Ramsey. "I think if you watched the interview [with Connie Chung], you got a pretty good flavor for what I'm talking about." Sophomore, Jean-Pierre Badon felt that, "When it comes to a person getting away with kidnapping; it really bothers me. Gary Condit should be taken out of the House of Representatives. Also he should be brought to trial. "Despite the fact that Condit's aura was less than satisfactory, according to FBI profilers who noted his incessant arm crossing and lack of eye contact, he insisted, in a letter sent out to his constituents the day of the interview, that although, "Some suggest that not talking with the media could mean I had something to do with Chandra's disappearance. I did not."
In spite of Condit's attempts to regain public support with the conduction of private polygraph tests, the opening of a reward fund, and letters to his constituents, his social acceptance is steadily decreasing. In a recent poll conducted by the "Modesto Bee" newspaper, the long-time supporter of Condit, only 27% of his constituents wanted to re-elect him. The Washington Post's Ann Cutler, in an opinion section, felt that she expressed the basic view of most Americans towards Condit after his interview with Connie Chung. "He did everything but produce the body."
Along with many voters, Condit's fellow Democrats have begun to see him as a possible liability to the party, and some are putting pressure on him to resign. Governor Gray Davis, a longtime friend of Condit recently joined the critics, indicating the waning support from political allies. "They don't want to be tarnished with secondhand sleaze," described Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a political science professor at the University of Southern California.
All of the public disapproval of Condit has raised the question of whether he will run for an eighth term or retire. Condit's chief of staff, Michael Lynch, confirmed the indecisive state of the politician. "This is what I will say. I talked to Gary [Condit]…and he said he has not made a decision.'' If he does decide to run for reelection, Condit will face the California legislators' new redistricting plan, which would add more, less loyal voters to his district, which, many say, would make it harder for him to win another term.
Although the controversy has more than likely destroyed Condit's political future, he still maintained a positive attitude in the letter to his constituents wherein he said, "I hope our relationship is strong enough to endure this." Condit will make his decision for another run for reelection by December 7, 2001.Throughout ESHS, students and staff have looked down upon Condit's actions as well. ASB President, senior Anne Foster-Keddie felt that, "If he is innocent, then he should just prove it, rather than hiding in the shadows." Math teacher Mike Stivers bluntly stated, "He's a real loser! I think that pretty much says it all!"