National opinion polls continually say that the American people deplore the actions of President Bill Clinton - but like the job he's doing.

A two-thirds majority believe Clinton should remain in office regardless of the findings by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr.

The pollsters evidently haven't made any calls to the Warsaw area, however.

A non-scientific, random sampling of opinions of area residents taken Wednesday shows a marked difference from what national pollsters are finding.

Ten residents - five men and five women - were asked their opinions on the president's troubles. Eight said he should be removed from office, either through resignation or impeachment. None said he is setting a good example or providing moral leadership for the country.

Dan Osbeck said he's less concerned about the Presidents sexual habit - or who his partners are - but it's the judgment he used in where chose to practice those habits that concerns him.

"I don't care about how he has sex," Osbeck said while eating lunch at Breadings Cigar Store. "But it's where he had it - the Oval Office - and that he lied about it that bothers me."

Shaun Bruner said the sex scandal isn't what bothers him, but it's the pattern of corruption he believes this administration has engaged in that's behind his desire to see Clinton removed from office.

"The sad thing is that impeachment is going to come down to Monica," he said. "But it should be about Whitewater, China, Indonesia and all the rest."

Bruner added that because Clinton is the commander in chief, he should be held to the same standard that other military personnel have been held to in regard to sexual misconduct.

"They ruined the careers of Sgt. Major (Gene) McKinney and the woman Air Force lieutenant for doing the same thing he's done," he said.

Both Bruner and Osbeck want Clinton out of office - either by his resignation or through the impeachment process.

Susan Walters agreed that the president has committed a terrible wrong, but that because of a strong national economy, he should be allowed to remain in office.

"The economy is doing well, so I think he's doing a pretty good job," she said. "I'm embarrassed for him and Hillary. I think he should be punished, but punish him with some sort of public humiliation. Let him finish his term."

Lana Haywood, enjoying the afternoon outside Courthouse Coffee, said she believes it's past time for the president to step down.

"I think he ought to be impeached. I wish they would have gotten him for what happened to (Vince) Foster," she said.

Leesburg residents Jerry Richardson and Paula Hoesel took a break from their lunch in Central Park to say the president should leave office - either voluntarily on involuntarily.

However, Hoesel isn't convinced that will be the result of the scandal.

"He (Clinton) definitely has a problem. But I think it's been a great waste of money that won't ever amount to anything," she said. "On a personal moral level, I think he should step down, though."

Richardson said the president must leave and the Starr investigation has been worth the expense, regardless of the criticism it has received.

"We owe it to the country - even if costs $4 billion - to show people that you can't do what he did and not be punished for it," he said.

Tracy Sleighter, of Warsaw, also pointed out Clinton's role as head of the military as her reason for him to be removed from office.

"I think he should resign. I agree with the letter to the editor in the paper that said since he is the commander in chief, he should be as accountable for his behavior as any other member of the military," she said.

Bill Roark, of Warsaw, commented after finishing his grocery shopping at Owen's that he thinks the president should resign and save the country from the pain and expense of the impeachment proceeding in Congress, as well as reimburse the government for the cost of the Lewinsky portion of Starr's investigation.

"I don't think he should be impeached. I think he should set a good example and go ahead and resign," he said. "And whoever came up with the idea that he should repay the cost of the investigation had an excellent idea."

Leonard Claypool, of Warsaw, said he's not sure who the national opinion pollsters are talking to, but they haven't called him.

"I think he should resign. He apparently doesn't have any morals so he should leave the office. He's just popular because the economy is going well," he said. [[In-content Ad]]