New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman surprised a packed Arco Forum yesterday by foregoing her scheduled speech and instead condemning both President Bill Clinton and the feminist movement.

Posters billed her speech as a talk on "Progress, Prosperity and Quality of Life," but Whitman chose to address the issue of "personal accountability and trust" in public office, and spoke out against the feminist movement's silence regarding Clinton's actions in the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

"It's not asking too much if we ask the President not to lie the American people, and it's not asking too much of the feminist movement to stand by what they believe," Whitman said.

"[Clinton] lied under oath. We're a country of laws. There has to be consequences for that," she added.

Whitman began her address on a less inflammatory note, saying that the Nov. 3 elections will be decided on local issues, and will not be a referendum on Clinton's behavior. The American people, she said, are tired of the "agony of the last ten months."

Quickly, however, she launched into a full-fledged condemnation of Clinton.

"Despite our disgust, a few aspects cannot be ignored. This is not only about sex, but about trust," Whitman said. "The President's actions have not only damaged him, but every public servant."

Whitman also chided the American public for their apparent willingness to condone Clinton. She said that America is "indulging in a false sense of complacency," and that "character does count."

Mentioning Clinton by name only infrequently, Whitman expressed the need for "trust" in public officials and spoke in general terms about the institution of the presidency.

"The presidency is bigger than any president. It should never be a forum for working out personal problems," Whitman said.

Despite her condemnation of Clinton's actions, Whitman refused to address the question, asked during the question and answer period following the speech, of whether she herself would votefor impeachment given the chance to do so.

Whitman next decried the "silence" of mostmajor feminist organizations in the wake ofClinton's extramarital affair.

"I'm perplexed by the reaction of many feministleaders. They have been silent, silent as neverbefore," she said. "Feminism has never been aboutpartisanship."

Whitman said that the feminist movement is"putting its credibility at risk," and, referringto the lack of a public censure of Clinton, said,"most people call that hypocrisy."

The feminist movement is sending a "mixedmessage," Whitman added. "Women across the countryno longer can count on sisterly solidarity, andmen are thinking, `If I do good things for women,it doesn't matter how I act to individuals,'" shesaid.

Whitman herself has been a longtime supporterof the feminist movement. The first femalegovernor of New Jersey, Whitman attributes much ofher success to the "pioneering" women of the past,and in her tenure as governor has appointedseveral women to high office.