February 23, 1999
Arizonans Say: Clinton's Example is a Bad Influence
President Clinton's private life made public has had an unfavorable effect on the morals of Americans and American youth according to a recent poll of Arizonans.
The study conducted by WestGroup Research of Phoenix last week shows that 59% of Arizonans believe the story of the Monica Lewinsky affair has had an unfavorable effect on the morals of Americans. In a similar question, 57% said the story had an unfavorable effect on the morals of American youth.
Ted Apostol, President of WestGroup Research, said "There is a leadership problem in this country when 46% of Arizonans say that our President is someone who has low morals, and only 4% believe he is a good and moral human being." According to the study, another 47% said Clinton is basically a good person with some faults.
While 73% of Arizonans think the President was guilty, most people (51%) agreed with the Senate decision not to remove him from office, and 45% disagreed. "When asked what the vote meant, the largest proportion, 44%, said they thought Clinton did wrong, but politicians would not hold him accountable," said Apostol, "while 37% just felt the President's actions did not qualify as high crimes and misdemeanors."
The study was conducted among 773 Arizona adults selected at random. Results are accurate within plus or minus 3.5% at 95% confidence. WestGroup Research sponsored the study as a public service.
