Like the satirically portrayed, trench-coated purveyer of titillating French souvenirs, the Clinton defenders have flashed us a glimpse of the dreaded doomsday bomb which is designed to cow weak-kneed senators into acquitting the president. That weapon is, of course, not the postcard, but the race card.

Lifting the tactic deliciously perfected by Johnnie Cochran in the other trial of the century, black spokespeople are now openly saying that conviction of Clinton would be an affront to their race and a repudiation of all he has done for them. Cheryl Mills, his female, African-American defense lawyer, used his civil rights policy as exculpatory evidence that he did not commit perjury, nor obstruct justice. How better to validate this nondefense nonsense than by having it delivered by a doubly endowed advocate — black and female.

Revivalesque hosannas of Clinton because he has elevated many blacks to important positions in his administration were in the past not extended to Republican presidents who, likewise paid tribute to blacks. When blacks such as Clarence Thomas were selected for prestigous positions they were either greeted with derision or were stigmatized as Uncle Toms. J.C. Watts election to a GOP leadership position is cheered by — whites. In general, there was and continues to be no political equivalence ascribed to the GOP as has been to Clinton by blacks. Thus, black abject prostration before the currently impeached chief executive is biased and hypocritical notwithstanding Toni Morrison’s canard that Clinton is our first black president.

That the black community would now rise, seemingly en masse, in defense of an obstructionist who characteristically used the power and prestige of his high office to purposely deny a fellow citizen, a woman no less, access to the law and its rightful due process is truly astounding. It is also somehow poignant when one realizes Clinton’s alleged but clearly demonstrated conduct was similar to that which the civil rights movement sought to condemn and successfully eradicated. Ronald G. Goldstone Dexter