Although no members rose to speak in defense of the president, Democrats delivered impassioned critiques of the House Judiciary Committee's open-ended plan for hearings. Democrats also got a measure of political protection by the chance to vote for their own inquiry plan, which would restrict the subject matter and set Dec. 31 as a date to end the probe. All but six Democrats, staunch liberals, voted for this alternative. All but one Republican voted to reject the alternative. All but three of the House's 38 Democratic women voted against the inquiry.
Women are smart enough to understand the Constitution.
Voting for the probe ''allows us to proceed with the inquiry and move on to the important business of the nation,'' said Rep. Charles Stenholm of Texas, whose re-election is at risk and who is also a leading conservative in the Democratic caucus. Many of the charges against the president are significant, and warrant an inquiry,'' said Indiana Rep. Tim Roemer, also a conservative, but one with few re-election worries. By voting for an open-ended inquiry, Roemer said, the 31 Democrats will gain credibility with the public should the time come for a vote on impeachment. Political consultants and party operatives say voters are not making up their minds for November votes based on President Clinton's scandal or the House's inquiry. But Thursday's vote made it clear that House members in tight races regard any connection with the president as risky.