THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 23, 1994 TAG: 9410210017
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
Without question, character is important, and it would be fortuitous if candidates for office were without blemish or flaw. However, politicians are no more likely to be plaster saints than Kipling's Tommy. In the contest between Robb and North, a voter is not choosing between rival suitors for an unmarried daughter.
I suggest the voter choose the candidate who if elected will by his actions in the Senate fulfill the wishes and desires of the voter.
If more government and higher taxes are what the voter wants, then the choice should be Robb. If less government and lower taxes are what the voter wants, the choice should be North.
Important as it is, character is not decisive here. This was demonstrated by the fact that 43 percent of the voters were for Clinton.
GEORGE H. GRAY
Chesapeake, Oct. 14, 1994
On Oct. 11, Vice President Al Gore provided me with the biggest laugh yet in this Senate race.
Did I actually hear him accuse Oliver North of ``aiding and giving comfort to the enemy''?
Since when did this administration care about this? Was it not Bill Clinton who was doing this very thing while people like Ollie were risking their lives for our country?
If Chuck Robb had anything desirable to run on, they wouldn't have to resort to these feeble attempts to discredit Ollie's patriotism.
Ollie's record speaks for itself, and it appears that Al Gore speaks for Chuck Robb.
LORRE HOPKINS
Virginia Beach, Oct. 12, 1994
I am amazed by the number of letters berating Oliver North appearing on the letters page. I can only conclude that either the newspaper is pro-Robb or there is a concerted effort by Robb supporters to flood the paper with these diatribes.
They all seem to miss the point. Assuming that North did everything they have accused him of, has anyone ever questioned what he had to gain? The only ``prize'' he received was the security fence around his house, which was at no cost to the government. Frankly, since his job placed his whole family in jeopardy, I feel the government should have provided the fence.
Also, you certainly don't believe a simple lieutenant colonel made the decisions in all of these Iran-Contra deals.
I am bewildered at how the liberals can overlook Robb's Virginia Beach escapades and Clinton's lies but find so much fault with a man who only followed orders.
WILLIAM TATUM
Virginia Beach, Oct. 13, 1994
This Iran-Contra thing sounds like a broken record. The bottom line is that the Democrats politicized it in the late 1980s trying to get Ronald Reagan.
Keeping Iran-Contra alive hides the poor performance and record of Senator Robb.
Those who want no change and more of the same should vote for Robb. As for me, I plan to vote for Ollie North.
WILLIAM M. MILLER
Virginia Beach, Oct. 12, 1994 ILLUSTRATION: Drawing
MR. NORTH
by CNB