THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 19, 1995 TAG: 9505190033
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
I read staff writer Alex Marshall's May 7 article with disgust. He made a poor attempt at connecting the Republican Party to the Oklahoma City bombing.
I am proud to be a Republican, and I support the party's candidates and representatives, including Oliver North and Newt Gingrich, who uphold our conservative philosophy.
I am also a member of the FEMA rescue team which worked in the bombed building for five straight nights looking for survivors of the blast. There were Republicans, Democrats and independents involved in the rescue effort. For Mr. Marshall to politicize the bombing is despicable and serves only to divide our country.
The perpetrators of this crime are deranged and are the most hated people in America at the time. No political party or person in any responsible position condones their actions in any way, shape or form. To put the blame for this act on people whose philosophy Mr. Marshall disagrees with is reprehensible.
If Mr. Marshall wants to make a positive contribution, he can go to Oklahoma City and help the victims put their lives together rather than sniping at people who are trying to make a difference. At the very least, he can use his column to condemn the guilty and applaud the rest of the patriotic Americans who helped in whatever way possible.
DENNIS BYLER CLARK
FEMA-VA Task Force 2
Structural engineer
Virginia Beach, May 10, 1995 by CNB