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

DATE: THURSDAY, June 16, 1994                    TAG: 9406160014 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A18    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Short 
DATELINE: 940616                                 LENGTH:

REPUBLICANS SHOULD OBEY `HERITAGE'

{LEAD} Traditionally, the Republican Party has stood for rights and responsibilities. In his June 12 Another View response to columnist Guy Friddell, state GOP Chairman Patrick McSweeney seems to set aside this principled heritage by attacking U.S. Sen. John Warner and independent candidate for the U.S. Senate Marshall Coleman.

Warner and Coleman undoubtedly have the right to denounce Oliver North - a right exercised by Frank Carlucci, Caspar Weinberger, Edwin Meese, George Shultz, Ronald Reagan, George Bush and a growing number of other Republicans.

{REST} Mr. McSweeney attacks the responsibility: ``Anyone who wants to enjoy the privilege of participating in the party must agree to abide by its rules,'' says McSweeney, including the ``commitment to support the nominees of that party.'' According to Mr. McSweeney, Republicans are therefore duty-bound to support Oliver North.

Should not one's true loyalty be to his or her own judgment, which reveals that ``personal responsibility'' has not been redefined as ``obeying the party,'' ``honesty'' as ``lying,'' and ``battle against crime'' as ``campaign for a felon''?

The loyalty demanded by Mr. McSweeney echoes North's defense for breaking laws of the United States.

Mr. McSweeney claims that ``if every member is permitted to pick what rules he or she will follow,'' the nominating process ``becomes merely advisory and ultimately meaningless.'' Let us hope that Republicans stay true to their values, judgment and responsibility by proving Mr. McSweeney correct.

DEREK S. MILLER

Virginia Beach, June 12, 1994 by CNB