ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, October 30, 1996 TAG: 9610300007
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
REGARDING your Oct. 24 editorial, ``Re-elect Boucher in the 9th'':
While your endorsement of Rick Boucher came as no surprise, I was astounded by your contention that his opposition offered only `` ... the same old, same old rhetoric: Boucher is a liberal, out of touch with the interests of the conservative 9th.''
Is telling the truth considered the same old rhetoric at The Roanoke Times?
Boucher voted against the partial-birth abortion ban, and then voted to uphold President Clinton's veto of this ban after it was passed by bipartisan majorities in both houses of Congress. He voted against the balanced-budget amendment, casting doubt on his campaign promise to work for a balanced budget by 2002.
His votes on those two issues (of many) certainly qualify him as a liberal who is out of touch with his constituents. And since they amply demonstrate that he's a member of the left wing of the Democratic Party, then why is it ``rhetoric'' for his opponents to educate the public about Boucher's liberal voting record?
It's your right to support any candidate you wish. But I don't believe you have the right to justify your selection by misrepresenting the positions of his opponents.
WILLIAM R. WATTS
CROCKETT
Dole went for the Bubba vote
I AM SHOCKED by Bob Dole's attack on the Buddhist congregations in California. He is pandering to the worst of religious and racial bigots in our nation.
While the Roman Catholic Church doesn't make vegetarianism a part of its discipline, even the pope took vows of personal poverty. Dole has no problems with that church having wealth and giving support to his candidacy.
Yes, Dole, we get it. These Buddhists aren't Christians. Many of them are foreigners. Many of them are Asian, meaning not white. Yes, I am sure Dole scored big with the Bubba vote, but I think he also lost the respect that many of us have always had for him.
I applaud The Roanoke Times for including some of the irregularities of the financing of Dole's campaign (Oct. 19 Associated Press news article, ``GOP also dipping into foreign coffers'').
On Oct. 10, The Wall Street Journal, a good Republican newspaper, published a study of some of Mrs. Dole's investments that sound pretty much like Hillary Clinton's. According to the Journal, ``Mrs. Dole made $50,000 in one deal arranged by Kansas businessman David Owen. Mr. Owen says he lobbied the senator to protect a tax shelter marketed by a company of which he was president and arranged for Mrs. Dole to invest in its stock. The stock's price jumped after the 1985 tax eliminated other shelters.''
No matter which lever you pull, folks, you ain't gonna get Snow White.
LEE D. FITZGERALD
FINCASTLE
Interstate will come, thanks to Goodlatte
I APPLAUD Congressman Bob Goodlatte for bringing the proposed Interstate 73 to the Roanoke Valley. Almost a year ago, largely due to his efforts in Washington, Congress required the routing of I-73 through Western Virginia.
As residents in or near the Roanoke Valley, we stand to benefit greatly from the creation of I-73's Virginia corridor. It means many new jobs, increased investment in the region, and greater access for our businesses to new markets east and south of Roanoke.
To win I-73 for the Roanoke Valley, Goodlatte organized Western Virginia business groups, community leaders and government officials, including Gov. George Allen and Sen. John Warner. They pushed for the Roanoke routing for two years, starting in 1993.
No doubt, other states competed to have this major highway pass near their communities, so Goodlatte deserves special credit for getting the job done on behalf of Virginia and the 6th District. That's the kind of robust representation in Washington that Western Virginia needs.
DAVID HORNER
LEXINGTON
He pulled strings to avoid the draft
REGARDING Steven E. Brown's Oct. 16 letter to the editor, "Stop the rantings against Clinton":
Having researched the military service of American presidents, I take issue with his comparison of President Clinton and Thomas Jefferson. He claims Jefferson didn't serve in the military and that Clinton didn't dodge the draft.
Jefferson is among the 70 percent of presidents who served in the military or militia. He served as lieutenant and commander in chief of the militia of Albemarle County, a position entitling him to be called "colonel." He was first appointed to this position in 1770 during British colonial rule, and was reappointed in 1775 by the revolutionary Committee of Safety of Virginia.
Clinton can better be compared to Grover Cleveland. Both were called up in the draft, but managed to avoid serving. During the Civil War, Cleveland legally hired a substitute, paying a Polish immigrant between $150 and $300 to serve in his place.
Clinton was ordered to report for induction in the spring of 1969. He got a postponement, and was again ordered to report on July 28. With political support, he escaped induction by signing a letter of intent to join the ROTC. Instead of enrolling in law school in Arkansas, he returned to Oxford. After the Nixon administration reduced the risk of being drafted and sent to Vietnam, Clinton abandoned his intent to join the ROTC. In October, he made himself available for the draft, where, in the first draft lottery that December - by luck - he wasn't drafted.
JAMES W. MORRISON
MONETA
Vote to protect workers' pensions
I ENCOURAGE all to vote yes on the proposed amendment to the state constitution that requires the General Assembly to change the Virginia Retirement System into a separate and independent retirement trust-fund system. A Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission study in 1994 recommended this be done to strengthen the system, and to protect its funds from being raided to balance the state budget. (Such raids took place between 1986 and 1991.)
Alabama and other states have had constitutional protection of their public pensions for decades. Montana and Wyoming recently passed amendments to protect pension funds before raids took place. Maine, California and Texas enacted protection only after raids had occurred. Virginia's constitutional amendment is carefully designed to protect VRS pensions from further raids, and to ensure sound financial management of those trust funds.
Active and retired public employees wish to protect their contributions to the VRS and the pension fund's investment earnings. And they expect those monies to be collected fairly, be invested wisely and used only for their rightful purpose.
VIVIAN N. SUTPHIN
President, Alleghany Highlands
Retirees Chapter, Virginia Governmental
Employees Association
COVINGTON
Stop scaring senior citizens
DEMOCRATIC candidates running for office in Virginia have falsely suggested - and in some cases, actually claimed - that Republicans intend to "cut" Social Security and Medicare. Just consider some facts:
nUnder the Republican Medicare plan, spending goes up from $4,800 per recipient last year to $7,100 per recipient in 2002.
nSen. Bob Dole and the Republican Congress passed a bill that raised the amount a Social Security recipient can earn from $11,250 to $30,000 before benefits are taxed, and the Republicans repealed President Clinton's $25 billion tax increase on Social Security recipients.
These aren't cuts to Medicare and Social Security, but measures that will result in increased spending on these vitally important social benefits. Only in an election year could an increase be called a cut.
As a senior citizen, I wish Democrats would stop insulting my intelligence with this sort of distortion and scare mongering.
GERET SALERNO
LEXINGTON
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