Bill Clinton genuinely pushed America to grapple with race. There was plenty of sneering and carping and criticism. Americans duck and carp and sneer. Give the President credit, he stuck to it. Few other presidents have been as eager to raise the subject or as willing to stick to it.
Race is a difficult topic.
Now, sex, lies and audiotapes will bury that dialogue along with civility, serious policy debates, and Clinton's reputation. Saying other presidents did similar things won't calm the storm or contain the sense of betrayal. Clinton cannot spin his reputation back. There's just one option. Oh yes, there will be heck to pay.