SORRY, NO GATE HERE

By JEFFREY H. BIRNBAUM/WASHINGTON

Every once in a while, a new revelation about the Clinton White House is not a scandal. That was the case last week with the discovery of a 200,000-person database in the bowels of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Republicans tried to portray the computer system as an ominous Big Brother that harbored a Nixonian Enemies List. The Washington Times disclosed the existence of the "supersecret" computer system on its front page, next to an article about the FBI Fileflap. Aha! The White House really is keeping tabs on people like reporters, corporate executives and members of Congress. G.O.P. leaders pounced. John Boehner of Ohio, the fourth ranking Republican in the House, branded the system "an outrageous abuse of taxpayer funds." Other wags were eager to call it Datagate.

Then White House aides began showing the entries, which are little more than guest lists from White House social functions and signing ceremonies--a Friends List for the digital age. While some people are noted as Clinton and party contributors, the information is out of date and without dollar figures. Although 90 staff members have access to the system, they can only see entries for people that matter to their departments. In short, the half-million-dollar system installed in 1993 is being used as a fancy electronic Rolodex, and not a very good one. What self-respecting Republican would investigate that?

--By Jeffrey H. Birnbaum/Washington