Reprinted from The Washington Times , 5am -- April 23, 1998
NOW won't support Jones' legal appeal
By Frank J. Murray
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The National Organization for Women yesterday refused for political reasons to support Paula Jones' appeal to salvage a sexual misconduct lawsuit against President Clinton, although more than 50 NOW chapters voted to help her.
Although the organization's membership was not polled, President Patricia Ireland said there was an "overwhelming consensus" not to join in the suit. She said NOW's board opposed it and only 50 or 60 of the group's 500 chapters were willing to support a friend-of-the-court brief in such a "highly charged political" case.
"Paula Jones has surrounded herself with a phalanx of politically motivated lawyers," Mrs. Ireland said.
"We have decided not to work with the disreputable right-wing organizations and individuals advancing her cause, who themselves have a long-standing political interest in undermining our movement to strengthen women's rights and weakening the laws that protect those rights."
Mrs. Jones' husband, Stephen, called NOW's decision "ludicrous" and said he personally was rebuffed when he sought the group's help early in the case.
"Why does women's rights have to be a left-wing or right-wing thing? If a woman is a Republican she's not backed when there's a sexual predator out there?" Mr. Jones told The Washington Times.
While dismissing the value of the Jones lawsuit, Mrs. Ireland called on Mr. Clinton and the Republican congressional leadership, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott and House Speaker Newt Gingrich, to raise the standard for sexual behavior in the workplace.
NOW said officials should "make clear that sexual misconduct does not have to rise to the level of criminal rape or assault to violate" federal laws.
NOW'S announcement -- in a statement on its World Wide Web page -- came as the Supreme Court heard arguments on a sexual harassment case involving some of the issues involved in the April 1 dismissal of Mrs. Jones' complaint that Mr. Clinton exposed himself and asked for oral sex when he was governor of Arkansas and she was a low-ranking state clerk.
"Paula is suing the man, not the office. To say Paula Jones is pursuing a political agenda is ludicrous," Mr. Jones said in an interview that recounted unsuccessful efforts early in the case to obtain NOW's support.
"We did reach out to Patricia Ireland. We asked for help. We didn't turn our back on NOW. They turned their backs on Paula Jones," he said.
There was no clear signal yesterday about the intentions of the independent NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund, whose counsel, Kathy Rodgers, was at the Supreme Court for arguments in the Burlington Industries vs. Kimberly Ellerth case, which could affect the Jones appeal.
Ms. Rodgers predicted a favorable outcome that could be helpful to Mrs. Jones' case.
"One of the major issues in the Paula Jones decision was the existence or lack of tangible job detriment. That is the issue in this case, so it will have some impact," Ms. Rodgers said.
She said she never joined in questioning Mrs. Jones' credibility because she did not complain to authorities about the incident involving Gov. Clinton when it was said to have happened.
"The reasonable belief that going through the procedures is just a futile effort on her part justified that," Ms. Rodgers said.
Rutherford Institute President John Whitehead and lead counsel Donovan Campbell Jr. both sent signals that they would welcome help from the feminist movement during their appeal.
"We're disappointed and think they ought to reconsider. It would be good for their members," said David Pyke, a partner in the Dallas firm of Rader, Campbell, Fisher & Pyke, which represents Mrs. Jones on a volunteer basis, working for free unless they win legal fees in a judgment or settlement.
Mrs. Ireland's announcement attacked the politics of the Rutherford Institute, Jones adviser Susan Carpenter-McMillan and what she termed other "women's rights opponents."
She said they "are using this case to advance their own political agendas."Copyright 1998 News World Communications, Inc.
Reprinted with permission of
The Washington Times.
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