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

DATE: SATURDAY, June 18, 1994                    TAG: 9406160019 
SECTION: FRONT                     PAGE: A12    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Medium 
DATELINE: 940618                                 LENGTH:

NORTH WOULD HINDER VIRGINIA

{LEAD} I am a loyal, patriotic American, a native Virginian whose life has been touched by those who served with integrity in the government or military. That is why my heart sinks a little lower every time I meet another Virginian supporting Oliver North's bid for the Senate.

Few Virginians know or care about North's estranged relationship with the law. Evidence can be found in his campaign to spare Gen. Jose Abnego Bueso Rosa of the sentence he received in an American court for his crimes. Jefferson Morley and Murray Waas, who wrote May 29 concerning this subject for The Washington Post, commented on ``North's inability to distinguish between his own political interests and the requirements of the law.'' It makes me wonder if the general and Iran/Contra are not just the tip of the iceberg.

{REST} North's most fanatical supporters include groups such as the Christian Coalition. This organization repeatedly attempts to trample the rights of non-evangelical (not to mention non-Christian) Americans. It bases its support on the fact that Oliver North ``will not back down on important moral issues.''

Does this mean that he will not compromise? Great compromises enabled the people who wrote the Constitution to build a way of life which Oliver North felt it necessary to lie to protect.

As an outsider who is already seen as a loose cannon by many of his intended colleagues, North will have great difficulty assimilating as a senator. His self-imposed ostracism will hinder Virginia's role in the national law-making process. With little or no voice on the national level, Virginia may as well cede from the union.

Thanks to Sen. John Warner for showing us that there is someone out there who believes that the Constitution is not just a piece of paper.

KATHY WILSON

Norfolk, June 9, 1994

\ \ As a veteran of the Marine Corps and a Republican, I am sickened and disgusted at the nomination of convicted felon Oliver North at the Republican convention in Richmond. I guess the message to be received here is ``Crime does pay.''

Let's see here! Oliver North, who admitted lying to Congress, is a Senate candidate. He claims to be ``political outsider'' and, yes, the world is flat. He claims to possess and bring honesty and integrity, and of course family values, to the ``political arena,'' never mind that he has no integrity and wouldn't know the truth if he fell over it.

Family values? ``Always tell the truth unless it's in your own self-interest to lie.'' Oliver North's supporters claim he has charisma. So did Adolf Hitler. They claim that most Virginians don't care about Ollie's felony convictions. I'm sorry. This one does, as do many others. I hope that Mr. Coleman reads this.

Ollie and his supporters claim they are patriots. I say to them, and especially to Mr. North, as someone once said, ``Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.'' Clearly Oliver North has found his refuge.

STEVE A. SMITH

Virginia Beach, June 5, 1994

\ \ Bed-ridden by an injury, I listened to every fascinating minute of the Iran-Contra hearings. Before Congress, with his hand raised under oath, and with a very solemn face, Oliver North lied at every question.

Since I had read about the Iran-Contra affair in newspapers and magazines, I felt that I knew a lie when I heard it.

How, then, can I possibly vote for Oliver North?

MARGARET BRODIE

Norfolk, June 5, 1994

by CNB