ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 1, 1996 TAG: 9611010002
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A12 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
WE HAVE been subscribers to The Roanoke Times for quite some time, and have agreed or disagreed numerous times with your content. In respect to Alan Sorensen's Oct. 27 column (``Rest easy, now you know which candidates to vote for'') and the endorsement of Bill Clinton's re-election, we disagree.
We do not champion or reward liars, draft dodgers, seditionists, traitors, adulterers, pot smokers, drug users, womanizers, socialists, fascists, phonies or opportunists. And we question the motives of those who aid, abet and offer support to such persons who fit these descriptions.
In Sorensen's column, he attempted, in our opinion, to jokingly (in bad humor), arrogantly and superficially neutralize and minimize your endorsement of Clinton. But the damage is done, the newspaper's point is made and your influence is asserted.
Sorensen says: ``And if a winner who got our endorsement proves a turkey in high office - sorry, not our fault. We give no guarantees. He's your man as much as ours.'' What a cop-out this statement is! Slick is a creature of your making and the object of your affection, not ours and never will be ours.
You solicit opinions. You now have a tiny portion of our sentiments. We cannot totally avoid being propagandized, but we do have some control. As the saying goes regarding television, you can always turn the dial. Likewise, regarding newspapers or other publications we subscribe to, we can always stop their access to us. We certainly do not intend to pay for propaganda we disagree with. You people are altogether too much for us to stomach.
RICHARD A. DAVIS
MARION
Dole has had ethical lapses
LIKE MOST of your readers who have written about the ethics and character of presidential candidates, I believe they are important. Here are examples of ethical actions that we should look at in this election.
* A prominent elected official used his influence and power to have an amendment added to a loophole-closing tax bill that allowed one particular company to take a 10 percent tax-credit that was denied to virtually every other business. It saved the company $8.5 million in taxes. In return, the official received campaign donations, and the company's CEO ran fund-raisers that garnered millions in campaign funds.
* A prominent elected official used his influence to have a bill killed that would have forced polluters to pay a fee to be used to clean up a polluted area. In order not to antagonize the people living in that state, he arranged for the government to pay $200 million out of the general fund for the cleanup. In return for this favor and the large price supports extended to this businessman, the official was given $471,000 for his campaigns.
Who is this elected official? It was Bob Dole, who helped the Luan Trucking Co. get the tax credit in example No. 1. He also helped his sugar friend in Florida, Jose Fanjul, avoid paying 2 cents a pound for the cleanup of the Everglades that he was destroying. This was in addition to a price-support program put through by Dole (example No. 2).
These programs were paid for by you and me - the taxpayers. However, one thing can be said in Dole's favor. When he makes a deal, he doesn't go back on his word.
PHILIP ROSDOL
ROANOKE
Bob Goodlatte's `anti-green' record
A MAJORITY of Americans consider themselves conservationists. Many are concerned about the anti-environmental direction of the 104th Congress, the most extremist Congress in decades. I was surprised that the recent WVTF debate among Jeff Grey, Bob Goodlatte and Jay Rutledge scarcely touched on this vital issue.
Never mind that Goodlatte is one of the leaders in this attack on our public forests, clean water and clean air. He voted for the "clear-cut" salvage rider (``logging without laws'') twice, and for numerous other pieces of blatantly anti-environmental legislation. Goodlatte, Sen. Bob Dole, Newt Gingrich and other special-interest Republocrats and Demopubs were some of the main cheerleaders and accomplices in this backdoor attack.
We have as much to be concerned about in Virginia as other parts of the country. The George Washington National Forest is planning to log stands that are 200 to 300 years old as part of the Hematite timber sale!
If Grey or any of the "green"er candidates want to reach the people on these issues, I suggest they make their views known as soon as possible.
SHERMAN BAMFORD
ROANOKE
New Democrat is a stealth liberal
YOU DESCRIBE Bill Clinton as ``coping and groping toward consensus thinking about tomorrow'' (Oct. 27 editorial, ``Re-elect Bill Clinton''). Bob Dole could be described much the same way during all of his years of public service, and especially now.
When Dole appears to be ``malleable'' in a positive way, such as seeing now the value of reform in the areas of immigration, entitlements, etc., you characterize his change of attitude as ``unfortunate for his candidacy.'' On the other hand, Clinton can promise middle-income tax cuts, then propose ``targeted'' cuts in the 11th hour. But, of course, this is considered to be a comparatively noble change of heart.
Couldn't Dole's recognition of the unbridled growth of the 1980s spurred by supply-side politics be considered ``growth in office''? Even the 4-plus percent growth rates in early 1993 (George Bush) would have to be considered better than the current 2.5-plus percent.
``Fiscal responsibility,'' as you at The Roanoke Times no doubt define it, cannot possibly include a recognition by the Republican candidate that tax cuts can - should - be an integral part of balancing Uncle Sam's books!
``Various mini-scandals Offering no comparison with, say, Watergate or Iran-Contra''? Watergate at this time in 1972, just before Richard Nixon's re-election, was also at the stage of unsubstantiated allegation. Nixon was compelled to resign from office because he was aware of the unethical activities of his subordinates and did nothing. Where, now, is the great cry, far and wide, for impeachment?
Yes, Clinton is ``something else,'' as you articulated it. Not ``right-winger,'' not ``old-fashioned liberal,'' but, a ``New Democrat,'' which is, as far as I can tell, a stealth liberal.
GLENN W. BROOKMAN
ROANOKE
Voters' character will be revealed
WITH BILL Clinton being handed a second term by the liberal media, I'd like to revisit the character issue.
The idea being promoted is that character isn't important in this presidency as long as the economy is healthy, fictitiously so, and everyone is promised something. It seems to be working. But let's take a closer look at how character affects us all.
Does character matter when you take your car in for repairs and you get an expensive estimate, when all you needed was new spark plugs? Does character matter when you drive down the road and everyone you meet could be a drunken driver?
Character affects our lives daily in countless ways. People with good character, honesty, conviction, kindness and truthfulness uplift our lives. People with bad character make life frustrating and difficult.
In 1789, Robert Morris, who urged George Washington to seek the office of president, wrote: ``The exercise of authority depends upon personal character.''
Jay Leno jokes that Clinton has the support of those who smoke dope, cheat on their wives, and are involved in shady real-estate deals. The sad part is that this may not all be a joke.
This election will reveal the character of some of the voters, which appears at this point to be very questionable.
RUSSELL DUNCAN
SALEM
It could have been said more clearly
REGARDING your Oct. 27 editorial, ``Re-elect Bill Clinton'':
You took about 32 column inches to say what could be said in just a few words - ``Hold your nose and vote for Bill Clinton.''
Think how many trees my version would have saved!
TOM JOHNSON
CHRISTIANSBURG
LENGTH: Long : 147 linesby CNB