Controversial issues are always a part of American politics and no American president,
famous or not famous, goes scot free with them.
History will be the judge and the American people will determine whether their chief
executive was right or wrong.
The suspension of the writ of habeas corpus and Marshall Law characterized Abraham
Lincoln’s administration. Richard Nixon’s Watergate scandal is still fresh in the minds of the
American public. The weapons of mass destruction that befell Iraq and Saddam Hussein haunt
George W. Bush. Monica Lewinsky aside, Bill Clinton adapted a policy of “(D)on’t ask, don’t
tell” in recruiting soldiers regardless of sexual orientation. The involvement of the US
government in Iran-Contra affairs dented Ronald Reagan’s presidency. And now, Barack
Obama’s pronouncement on same sex marriage has created a chasm among Americans.
The writ of habeas corpus is fundamental with the exercise of civil rights and freedoms. It
secures individuals from arbitrary arrests and illegal detention. But at the height of the American
civil war, Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ in the guise of protecting the institutions of the
government. Suspension of the writ is a Machiavellian act and is often a tool of dictators.
Lincoln, however, vindicated himself when he eradicated slavery in the US.
Richard Nixon is always synonymous with Watergate. Nixon’s Watergate was an
explosive political scandal of conspiracy, cover-up and espionage. It involved the burglary of the
Democratic National Committee offices and planted wiretaps to ensure the election victory of
Richard Nixon, a republican. While Nixon was re-elected president, he resigned when his
impeachment was imminent. Nixon breached the principle that a public office is a public trust.
Saddam Hussein was hated by the Iraqis who were not Sunnis. He was an arrogant
dictator and he hated the United States. The Iraqi Shiites have been suffering under his regime
and they were dying in huge numbers. George W. Bush wanted to get rid of Saddam Hussein but
there was no valid reason to justify the attack on Iraq. The issue of weapons of mass destruction
became the rallying point. Allies of the US were convinced and they launched the attack.
Saddam Hussein fell from power and fled Iraq. Iraqis were freed from the clutches of a harsh
regime and democracy installed. After the dust had settled, Iraq was found to have no weapons
of mass destruction. The Saddam experiment was a president lie at its highest
The Monica Lewinsky affair was a political embarrassment to Bill Clinton which led
to his impeachment. His apology before Congress, however, saved Clinton from impeachment.
Clinton’s “(D)on’t tell, don’t ask policy” paved the way for gays to enlist in the military. It is not
clear if that policy has affected the combat capability of the US armed forces which is still one of
the finest among the world’s military armed forces.
At the height of the war between Iran and Iraq, Ronald Reagan approved the sale of
weapons to moderate Iranians to secure the release of seven (7) American hostages then held by
Hezbollah terrorists. At the time of the sale, the US had imposed an arms embargo against Iran.
The arms would be used against the powerful cleric, Ayatollah Khomeini, who waged war
against Iraq. The proceeds of the sale were then secretly channeled to the Contras of Nicaragua
who were also battling the communist regime of the Sandinistas led by Daniel Ortega. The
Contras failed to topple the Sandinista government. Reagan’s Iran-Contra affair was a classic
reminder that the application of law sometimes exempt the president. And the sovereignty of a
nation is dependent on the interests of another country. The principle in international law that
all nations are equal is a mere rhetoric.
While the US is the fountain of democracy, Americans are relatively conservative
especially with the issue of marriage. Americans still view marriage in a traditional way – the
union between a man and a woman, even if majority of the states allow gay marriage. Thus,
when Barack Obama announced that he supports gay marriage ordinary Americans raised their
eyebrows. Americans still believe that homosexual union is immoral. As the foundation of
society, Americans consider marriage as a sacred institution that no president has the right to re-
define it. It remains to be seen whether the issue of same sex marriage will become the albatross
hanging on the neck of Obama in the coming US presidential election.
LANA’s First
The Laoacanian’s Association of North America (LANA), a newly formed Filipino
organization in Toronto, will have its first induction of officers on May 26, 2012. LANA is
an offshoot of the hard work and dedication of the people from the Town of Laoac, in the
Province of Pangasinan, whose objective is to connect all Laoacanians and support the
development and progress of their town. The executive officers are: Johnson Dolores, president;
Jasmine Paeste; vice president; Emily R. Dolores; secretary; Teosie Mendijar, assistant secretary;
Leila Crisostomo, treasurer; Rhodora T. Espinosa, assistant treasurer; Marilyn Dolores, auditor;
Carol Magsano, assistant auditor; Jimmy Tabayoyong, Joel Crisostomo, Reynaldo Magsanoc,
business managers; Ma. Elena Quiban, Tessie Dela Cruz, p.r.o.; Elpidio Enrile, Jr. and Walter
Fabroa, advisers. The members of the board of directors are: Miriam Enrile, chairman; Ana
Drapeza, Daisy Fabroa, Rodolfo Rebugio, Rodrigo Llagas, Imelda Paeste Aquino, Lisa
Tabayoyong Soto and Bartolome Cardenas.