THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, October 19, 1994            TAG: 9410190006
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   37 lines

CLINTON IS NORTH'S COMMANDER IN CHIEF

I was shocked to hear Oliver North respond to a reporter's question concerning his views on the recent troop deployments to Kuwait by trumpeting his traitorous claim that the president of the United States ``is not my commander in chief.'' Is yet another public expression of this man's contempt and disdain for the Constitution of the United States of America necessary to demonstrate to Virginians that he is unworthy of and unfit for public office?

Having ignored in his Iran-Contra escapades the constitutional reservation of certain powers to the legislature, while serving as a military officer sworn to defend the framework of government created by that document, this so-called ``hero'' now claims for himself, as a candidate for political office, the prerogative of choosing when and to what extent he shall deign to recognize the constitutional authority of the chief executive.

A true and loyal citizen of this great country (especially one educated at the U.S. Naval Academy) should not need to be reminded that ``The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States'' (as specified in Art. II, Sec. 2 of the U.S. Constitution).

One who cannot express disagreement with policies of an individual who lawfully occupies public office without demeaning that office serves only to demean himself. Those such as North who unabashedly put partisan political sniping and personal aggrandizement before loyalty to their country and its Constitution deserve our scorn and pity, but never our vote.

C. ELIZABETH CARNES

Virginia Beach, Oct. 13, 1994 by CNB