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Bob Smith says he favors impeachment By PAUL FATTIG Retiring Congressman Bob Smith is getting plenty of advice for the last vote he will ever cast in Congress. He's already made up his mind: He will vote for impeachment. Judging by the flood of comments he's received, a lot of his constituents have made up their minds as well. His 2nd District congressional office in Medford office was swamped by nearly 800 calls -- including faxes and letters -- on Monday regarding the full House's historic vote on impeachment set for this Thursday. That included 439 supporting impeachment, 158 for censuring the president and 194 calling for no action regarding impeachment. Add last week's comments and his office has received nearly 1,600 messages over the issue, largely from constituents. Until Monday, the tally was 459 for impeachment, 108 for censure and 208 urging that Congress take no action. Smith said he isn't surprised by the uproar over the controversial issue. The 14-year veteran of Congress said he expects to be the only member of the Oregon delegation to vote for impeachment. He still is taking the comments into account, he said. "Frankly, I think that members of Congress have to reach their decisions independently after analyzing what they believe to be the facts," he said. "The facts ought to stand by themselves. They do for me. "Under good conscience, I have to follow what I believe to be true," he added, noting that he believes Clinton's action violated the Constitution. "Therefore, I will vote for articles of impeachment." Like Smith, none of those offering advice beat around the political bush. Consider the letter from a couple from Fort Rock. "We feel the president lied under oath and obstructed justice in the Monica Lewinski matter ... . The law of this land must be upheld no matter who the person. "We are putting our vote to you now: IMPEACHMENT FOR PRESIDENT CLINTON IS A MUST!" the letter concluded. Another letter from Bend echoed similar sentiments. "We should never forget that our White House `resident disgrace' shook his finger at us and lied," it stated, adding that Clinton is guilty of perjury, obstruction of justice and abuse of power. But a constituent in Klamath Falls opposed impeachment. "I do not condone the actions of the president ... but, at the same time, I don't think they rise to impeachable acts," the constituent said. "Let's censure him in a way that history will record the president did wrong by the American people. But I do not want him put out of office." Another, from Merlin, disagreed with that tack. "We are not Clinton bashers and, as such, have stayed openminded with respect to the proceedings," it said. "It would set a dangerous example were he allowed to lie to the grand jury with impunity." A letter-writer from Dallas, Ore., indicated that impeachment was the House's only choice. "Bill Clinton will get a fair trial as demanded by the Constitution," it said of action in the Senate. A constituent in Cave Junction politely opposed impeachment. "Thank you for taking time to let me vent my frustration with the president, (Judiciary Committee) Chairman Mr. Hyde and the news media," the constituent wrote. But a letter writer from West Linn was downright angry. "I'm mad as hell and I'm going to do something about it!" wrote the non-district writer who described himself as a Republican who now votes for Democrats. "The decision to impeach the president of these great United States is a pure political decision without any constitutional basis for high crimes and misdemeanors," it adds. Those making telephone calls were often the angriest, said John Snider, Smith's district director. "We've taken more four-letter words and abuse than we've ever taken on any other issue," he said, adding that most of the angry calls are opposed to impeachment. But Smith, who left for Washington, D.C., this morning, said he left his emotions out of his decision to support impeachment. "I've re-read the Constitution and I've re-read the articles of impeachment," he said. "I've re-read the 81 questions that were sent to Clinton, the questions that were not answered. "I've come to the decision that he lied. If he lied, then perjured himself, is that a sufficient level to reach impeachment under the high crimes and misdemeanors test? I have reached the decision it is." Smith's Medford office can be reached by telephone at 776-4646 or fax at 779-0204. His Washington, D.C., office number is (202) 225-6730; e-mail address is: [email protected] Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA