ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, June 9, 1996 TAG: 9606070003
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
REGARDING BILL Clinton, a Nixon of the '90s:
In spite of Whitewater's similarities to the Watergate debacle, editors of this newspaper and 43 percent of Americans continue to support Clinton.
Three of his former business partners are convicted felons.
He has amended his tax returns three times since he took office (once just recently) regarding back taxes, penalties and interest on Whitewater business, in reaction to federal prosecutors' scrutiny.
A total of $50,000 from fraudulent loans was funneled to Clinton/Whitewater businesses, according to the FBI testimony in the Arkansas trial.
Clinton associates replied with ``I don't recall'' or similar statements more than 600 times during the Whitewater hearings.
On June 1, Clinton invoked ``executive privilege'' in not supplying 2,000 pages of notes relating to the Travel Office and Vince Foster in response to congressional requests involving Foster's papers and their handling after Foster's death.
Nixon didn't actually perform the covert actions at Watergate, but he resigned in disgrace attempting a cover-up. Can any rational person or newspaper claim that the Clintons have absolutely no knowledge of any criminal activity?
DAN SHAVER
ROANOKE
Time to go after the troublemakers
REGARDING YOUR May 22 news article, "PH pupils: Get rid of bad apples":
I'm glad someone is finally paying attention to what's going on at Patrick Henry High School. Over the years, I've heard many stories about things going on there. But they were always told secondhand, so I never knew how much was true. When the students finally decide they've had enough, I guess that tells me just how bad it is.
It's time to make some major changes. If they're not made by the time my children go to high school, we'll send them to private school. And there will be many other parents following right behind us.
School officials must straighten out the problems at Patrick Henry High School - now!
DEBI TINSLEY
ROANOKE
Grandstanding for Rush Limbaugh
THE MONTVALE teacher was correct in taking the book from the 9-year-old student (May 24 article, "Father undertakes 'Rush' to judgment").
The teacher followed a good, common-sense guideline for her elementary students. If there were no guidelines, what is to stop books such as "Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot" by Al Franken from being brought to schools in the future?
This whole episode was obviously created by an overzealous Limbaugh supporter (the father) and Craig Wright, WFIR radio talk-show host, who also seems to be a Limbaugh fan. Wright seems to have gotten the five minutes of fame he wanted by running to the school with his tape recorder and then calling the Limbaugh show to boast of his good deed.
GUY E. McALLISTER
ROANOKE
Chauvinism ensures defeat of Dole
IN DECEMBER 1941, I remember Franklin D. Roosevelt saying that Dec. 7 was "A day which will live in infamy." Now, we can say that the week of the Memorial Day observance was a week that will live in infamy!
Veterans like myself almost gagged as we watched draft-dodger Bill Clinton lay a wreath in the Arlington National Cemetery. What a travesty as he dutifully laid the wreath, then stepped back and lowered his head as if in prayer for those veterans whom he disparaged and marched against in England while a student there.
We were treated to the verdicts in Arkansas when Jim and Susan McDougal and Jim Bob Tucker were convicted for shenanigans in Whitewater. My mother always told me that you're known by the company you keep. Will everyone who believes the Clintons are completely innocent, unknowing of any of the loan transactions and funny business of Whitewater, please hold his or her breath for five minutes?
What a shame that we're represented by a man 57 percent of the voters voted against in 1992. Legislation should be introduced and passed to say a president must receive at least 50.1 percent of the popular vote to be elected.
Unfortunately, until the Republican Party changes its antiquated, mid-19th century stand - that politicians know better what's best for women than women themselves regarding abortion, birth control, etc. - then the man in the White House is a shoo-in for re-election. I know I, who have never voted for a Democrat for president, will not vote for a candidate who denies women the right to choose what's right for them. If Bob Dole repudiates this GOP stand and declares that women are first-class citizens with the right to choose for themselves, then he'll get my vote.
SAMUEL C. PALMER JR.
ROANOKE
Clinton was late with Megan's Law
THANKS TO President Clinton for signing Megan's Law (May 18 article, ``Parents watch Clinton sign `Megan's Law'''). It didn't take but two years for Congress to present this legislation to him. Not bad, I guess. Seems, though, that it could have been done earlier. Question is: When he was the sitting president and not the campaigning president, would Clinton have signed it?
Once upon a time, Clinton didn't act like a conservative Democrat. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't the Republicans include this same legislation in another crime bill way back when staunch liberals such as Messrs. Foley and Mitchell still roamed the halls of Congress? If my memory serves me correctly, those same Democrats removed that part of legislation in joint committee before sending the bill to the White House for Clinton's signature.
Why didn't Clinton veto that legislation, and demand Megan's Law years ago? The answer, of course, is that liberal Democrats controlled Congress, and Clinton let them dictate the agenda.
Instead, we got l00,000 new police on the streets and midnight basketball. Probably more like 2,500 new cops on the beat. Would Clinton want to run into any of those leaving midnight basketball around 2 a.m. or 3 a.m.? Well, those living in the affected areas sometimes did, and I bet they really enjoyed that.
DAN QUAM
ROANOKE
Experience is on Warner's side
SEN. JOHN Warner has been good for Virginia. His expertise, influence, integrity, seniority and positions on the Senate Armed Forces, Rules and Agriculture committees assure that he can continue to be good for Virginia in ways no freshman senator - no matter how capable - could possibly be.
LORRIE and HANK GREGORY
ROANOKE
Nobody wants Warner
ELIZABETH TAYLOR didn't want John Warner. The Democrats - and for sure the Republicans - don't want him. Warner needs to go home to his dog. The dog will be loyal, even if Warner's not.
On June 11, vote for Jim Miller.
VICTOR R. POFF
ROANOKE
Government can't play Big Momma
THE RECENT march on Washington for children's rights seemed to be a plea for a big-government handout, not a call for help that would be acceptable. It left me with the impression that some women of America are ``brood mares'' for government.
Why would women, or anyone for that matter, expect taxpayers to foot the bill for the babies they have in or out of wedlock? People who conceive children are the ones responsible for their care. Children are a special gift from God, not the government. They have to come from a responsible act of love and the grace of God. They're not weekend specials, but are full time, and they require full-time parental care. If women cannot care for a child, don't have one. It's that simple.
Big shots in Washington get their money from programs they say are for women. Women may want to depend on government, but I don't want them to depend on our tax dollars. They didn't support my children, and I don't expect to support theirs.
ROY HIPPERT
SALEM
LENGTH: Long : 159 linesby CNB