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What are Democrats saying?????
                  
Lieberman:Clinton Conduct 'Immoral 

By David Espo
Associated Press Writer

Thursday, September 3, 1998; 6:03 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a somber speech on the Senate floor,
Democratic Sen. Joseph Lieberman said Thursday that President Clinton's
behavior with Monica Lewinsky was "immoral and it is harmful" and
Clinton deserves public rebuke. 
"In this case, the president apparently had extramarital relations with
an
employee half his age and did so in the workplace in the vicinity of the
Oval Office," Lieberman said. 
Such behavior, he said, "is harmful for it sends a message of what is
acceptable behavior to the American public." 
At the same time, Lieberman said it is premature for Congress to take
any
action before Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr submits a report to
lawmakers. 
Few Democrats were present to hear Lieberman's remarks. But top
Republican leaders, including Majority Leader Trent Lott and the GOP
whip, Don Nickles, were present and listening closely from their seats a
few yards away. 
Lieberman thus became the first member of either party since Clinton's
grand jury testimony last month to use the Senate floor to address the
issue. Democratic leaders had hoped he would avoid speaking, but within
moments after he concluded, two fellow Democrats rose to praise him for
it. 
Lieberman said that Clinton "had by his disgraceful behavior jeopardized
his administration's historic record of accomplishment." 
His speech were laced with remarks about the morality of Clinton's
behavior. 
"The president's relationship with Ms. Lewinsky not only contradicted
the values he has publicly embraced over the last six years," Lieberman
said.
"It has, I fear, compromised his moral authority." 
Democratic officials had said earlier in the week that Lieberman was
weighing a call for censure of the president. 
Lieberman noted that while some people have already called for Clinton's
resignation, presidential supporters want the nation to move beyond the
entire episode. 
"Appealing as that option may be, the transgressions the president has
admitted to are too consequential for us to walk away and leave the
impression for our children today and our posterity tomorrow that the
conduct he admitted to in the White House are acceptable," he said. 
Clinton's conduct, he declared, should be followed "by some measure of
public rebuke and accountability"-although not until Starr sends a
report to Congress. 
Lieberman made his comments as Republican officials in the House were
preparing for such a report, even though there was no indication that
Starr had notified them one was coming. 
Officials said legislation would be prepared to refer the material to
the Judiciary Committee. 
Under legislation that governs his appointment, Starr must give Congress
a report on any evidence he uncovers that contains evidence of
impeachable offenses by Clinton.