ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, October 23, 1996 TAG: 9610230023
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
ONCE AGAIN, this newspaper has displayed its blatant pro-Clinton bias. On the day after Clinton administration officials announced that our troops wouldn't be coming home from Bosnia as promised, the headline read: "Bosnia job not finished.''
The real story of this announcement was that, once again, Clinton reneged on a solemn promise to the American people. It's bad enough when his lies hurt our wallets. But when they threaten the lives of American fighting men and women, it's scandalous.
Can you imagine the reaction of this newspaper's left-wing staff if George Bush had reneged on a promise to bring troops home from Iraq? But with this administration, your motto is: "Clinton says it; I believe it; that settles it."
It's galling that Clinton, a draft dodger who organized a protest against me and the rest of the military during Vietnam, should now question the loyalty of anyone who opposes his duplicitous and dangerous nonpolicy in Bosnia. It's appalling that your so-called journalists would blindly support him.
ROBERT M. PLATZ
BLUE RIDGE
Hikers aren't the problem
REGARDING your Oct. 19 news article, ``Greenspace: Will city sell?'':
Roanoke city has a wonderful opportunity to get thousands of dollars for greenways development by selling or giving an easement to the National Park Service for land on the mountain ridge around Carvins Cove - the land that is part of the Appalachian Trail. And with that money, the city gets the support of hikers who value a clean environment on the watershed lands as much as does Roanoke city.
In the six years that I have hiked with the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, I've found that hikers and backpackers are aware of the need for minimal impact on the environment. Trail clubs, books and magazines have educated their members and readers in the no-trace camping ethic. Hikers keep to the footpath; do not litter; use tiny, efficient backpacking stoves; and pack out every scrap of trash. They stay in trail shelters or pitch their tents in designated areas. In some high-use areas, ridge runners walk the trail ready to offer assistance and to educate hikers in trail rules and values.
Here in the valley, the Appalachian Trail is largely the result of the dreams and sweat of hundreds of volunteers who work cooperatively with the National Park Service, the National Forest Service and the Appalachian Trail Conference. Together they maintain a trail of great beauty that serves the recreational and aesthetic needs of Roanoke Valley citizens.
In this same spirit of cooperation, the city's water-resources committee should make a thoughtful, thorough evaluation before it makes a decision on this issue.
LIZ LAMSON
ROANOKE
Too many doctors push abortions
PHYSICIANS DO perform abortions during late-term pregnancies based on inconvenience to the parents.
My child was diagnosed with several abnormalities late in my pregnancy during 1986. The doctors insisted that the child would never have a fulfilled life and would make my family miserable with all the heartache he would bring. They told me we could abort up to the day of delivery. The physicians pushed a late-term abortion on me, but we fought it.
It makes me ill to think people believe all these abortions are performed to save the mother's life. My child is now 10 years old and in the fourth-grade. He is not retarded, and has not inflicted agony on my family. Most of his birth defects have been corrected with surgery, and the rest are nominal. He's precious to us all.
You said in your Sept. 27 editorial (``The partial-birth abortion vote'') that "if there are any physicians who perform such abortions - or, for that matter, any abortions so late in a pregnancy - when the fetus isn't severely malformed or the mother's health isn't endangered, we have yet to see one publicly identified.'' Well, here I am.
TERESA LILLY
MARTINSVILLE
Take care to pick the right Warner
IT TAKES a big man to offer an apology quickly and sincerely as soon as a mistake is discovered. It also takes a big man to accept the apology.
We have two Warners wishing to represent us. One is big enough to quickly offer an apology and to correct a mistake. The other doesn't seem big enough to accept the apology. Now, which Warner to you think is the right Warner for Virginia?
NELLIE M. ATKINS
ROANOKE
Labor issues should be the top priority
WORKERS AND laborers are not in good hands with Bob Goodlatte. The congressman has an atrocious voting record when it concerns the working person. He has voted less than 3 percent of the time in favor of labor.
At a recent meeting with our labor group in his office, he told us that he couldn't support any labor-related issues pertaining to workers' rights that we brought to his attention.
There is a steady procession of bills in Congress to repeal or modify the hard-won rights that we now have. The platform of Goodlatte, Newt Gingrich and the Republican right is for the working class to work harder for less pay, receive fewer benefits, and have fewer employee protections so the fat cats can have more. The theory is trickle-down economics. It really boils down to a fairy tale for the working class.
Your job, standard of living and fair treatment should be your first priority, and the first priority of our elected officials. Birth control, gun ownership, crime and other issues are moot if you cannot support your family.
This country needs to be governed by us, not by out-of-touch lawyers. Vote for Jeff Grey. He is a laborer and will vote for the good of the common citizen of this state and nation.
TERRY L. SMITH
VINTON
Dole insults voters' intelligence
DURING THE early part of the presidential campaign, supply-sider Jack Kemp promised that the Republican tax cuts would make everybody wealthy. Long, long ago, P.T. Barnum warned, ``There is a sucker born every minute.'' So why not take advantage?
Why does Sen. Bob Dole pander to taxpayers to be elected to an office he is unsuited for and when he's unable to articulate why he wants it so badly?
During the presidential debates, Dole dared to look us in the eye and declare that he could cut taxes 15 percent across the board, balance the budget and not touch Medicare or Social Security. Excuse me! I'd rather believe that well-known admonishment, ``If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.''
The Dole-Kemp ticket deserves defeat for insulting our intelligence.
EMERY A. WHITE
SALEM
Jeff Grey is on the citizens' side
PLAIN AND simple: It's time for Bob Goodlatte to go. I heard Jeff Grey speak recently. Unlike Goodlatte, he spoke from his heart and soul, not from some leadership platform handed down by Newt Gingrich. Grey has worked hard all his life and understands our problems in the 6th District.
Goodlatte champions efforts to give a $245 billion tax break to the richest 5 percent of Americans. These people do not live in the 6th District. They are political-action-committee contributors to his campaign, not his constituents.
Clearly following the rhetoric of Bob Dole and Gingrich, Goodlatte continues to call Grey a liberal. Grey replies that if being a liberal means standing up for the rights of children and their right to have nutritional food, then he is a liberal. Well, I guess I can now call myself one, too.
Grey continually shows that he's a man of high principle and great moral courage. He's the type of representative we need - not because he'll make easy decisions in lock step with Gingrich's leadership, but because he'll make tough decisions to defend our seniors and children.
Let's send Goodlatte back to his law firm, and send Grey to Washington. Grey best represents the morals and principles that the people of our district use in our everyday lives.
JOSH BURCH
STEELES TAVERN
LENGTH: Long : 151 linesby CNB