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Reversals by Dr. Bernard Lewinsky, Monica's father
Reversals By Dr. Bernard Lewinsky
    On February 20, 1998, shortly after the scandal involving his daughter Monica had become front page news, an interview with Dr. Bernard Lewinsky was broadcast on the ABC television show 20/20.  Barbara Walters was the one who interviewed Monica's father.  Co-host Hugh Downs added a few comments and transitioned into a commercial break.  Dr. Lewinsky and the 20/20 co-hosts all had revealing reversals, summarized below:

    Dr. Lewinsky objects to Ken Starr's tactic of forcing Monica's mother to testify.
 
    Dr. Lewinsky worries about reducing the legal bills he is paying for Monica's attorneys.

    Dr. Lewinsky comments on his divorce from Monica's mother.

    Dr. Lewinsky denies his ex-wife's divorce allegations that he had a violent temper.

    Dr. Lewinsky explains why he sometimes raised his voice with his children.

    Barbara Walters asks Dr. Lewinsky to comment on the theory that Monica tries hard to please men because he was indifferent to her.

    In denying the validity of the theory, Dr. Lewinsky's reversal indicates that President Clinton should resign.

    When he transitions to a commercial break, co-host Hugh Downs' reversals consist of graphic sexual metaphors.

    Dr. Lewinsky gives his opinion of Linda Tripp, an older woman who befriended Monica while secretly taping their telephone conversations.

    Barbara Walters delicately asks Dr. Lewinsky what he questioned Monica about but Barbara's  reversal makes her query quite explicit.

    Dr. Lewinsky's reversal shows he very astutely recognized that President Clinton might start a war to divert attention from the Monica scandal.


To pit [a mother against her daughter], to coerce her to talk, [eh, to me it's reminiscent] of the McCarthy Era, of the Inquisition, [and even you know you could stretch it] and say the Hitler era.

    Her daughter snake rhythm  //  send 'em out, slay with it  //  the sharks that grew on it and have eaten it          snake.ra
Comment:  These are negative images with metaphors.  Snake rhythm indicates a smooth and precise but deceptive operation.  Sharks are predators.


Barbara Walters:  "Are you paying the legal bills for your daughter?"
Bernard Lewinsky:  "Yes and that is something that is [tremendously worrisome]."

    Must zero Wilson number.         wilson.ra
Comment:  It is unknown who or what Wilson is but this apparently refers to eliminating or reducing the legal bills.


Divorce by definition is not a happy event and there was a [time period] where relations between the two of us were a little bit strained.

    They rip me off.         rip.ra
Comment:  It is common for divorced men to feel that they were financially shafted in the course of their divorce.


[Those are allegations] that were totally refuted ...

    And she egged the liars on         liars.ra
Comment:  His reversal is consistent with his forward speech, indicating he is telling the truth.


[I think that every parent, every once in a while, will raise his voice].

    The opposite, see error a while, when it's not we've written their act, we've written that myth out.         opposite.ra
Comment:  Although not violent, he believes in verbally correcting his children for errors until he no longer sees the errors in their behavior.


Barbara Walters:  "[It's been theorized in the press that Monica tries] very hard to [please men because] of your supposed indifference to her.  [Have you read that?]

    They're stickin' 'em bad in the surf and the salaried nips it  //  suck it, man's eel  //  I'd bury her            salaried.ra
Comment:  Although the press had published much speculation about Monica, management had refused to print some of the more lurid stories at that point in time.  The reversal on the reference to pleasing men very graphically captures the allegations of what Monica supposedly did with the President.  Barbara Walters might disown Monica is she were her daughter.


[Yes, I read that.  And I think that that's uh] press psycho babble.

    Ask that dismiss him, had to resign         resign.ra
Comment:  Monica's father's thoughts seem to be centering on what should happen to the President.


Hugh Downs:  "What did she tell her father about her relationship with the President, [about the gifts she gave Mr. Clinton.  Barbara continues] with Bernard Lewinsky after this."

    The Danish lick her mouth, milk her some Danish, faking his Bubba        danish.ra
Comment:  These metaphors make sense if you view Danish as semen, faking as not doing the real thing, and Bubba as penis.  Some political pundits refer to President Clinton as "Bubba."  Is their reference related to this metaphor?


I think that the expression "with friends like her, [you don't need enemies" has a new meaning].

    Many moon with the semen adding naughty         naughty.ra
Comment:  The reversal expands upon the meaning of the forward speech.  A true friend would have voiced disapproval rather than just listened as the sexual acts with the President continued.


Barbara Walters:  "In those ten days did you ever say to her, um, '[Monica please tell me what's] going on?'"

    That we must see you fu*king 'um         seeyou.ra
Comment:  It is clear what question Barbara Walters really wanted to know if Dr. Lewinsky had raised with Monica.


Barbara Walters:  "What if it turns out that your daughter did have a sexual relationship with the President?"

Bernard Lewinsky:  "Well, [I don't know what if],

'Fraid of war, no doubt          war.ra
Comment:  Whether he saw the movie "Wag The Dog" is not known but Dr. Lewinsky is voicing concern over exactly what happened in that movie, i.e. a President, facing charges that he engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with a girl in the White House, created a phony war to divert the nation's attention away from his problems.


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Copyright 1998,1999,
by Mark Commerford