THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 27, 1996 TAG: 9610250014
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 29 lines
I received a lengthy campaign letter from the candidate running against Owen Pickett in the 2nd District congressional race, and I would like to say that Mr. Pickett's seat is safe in Congress. My advice is to remain quiet so that the challenger can be clearly heard.
Indeed, if the message in this letter is consistent with his political vision, he will succeed in gaining the support of only the most ardent fans of Rush Limbaugh and G. Gordon Liddy.
The letter assumes the reader is opposed to any social role for the federal government. Its argument is not enhanced by equating this role with minuscule federal expenditures on rock 'n' roll museums, the Goodwill Games and other ``social welfare boondoggles,'' as the letter so states. Furthermore, the message indicates that the candidate has blindly signed on to the slash-and-axe - military buildup - solution to social and economic problems.
As events since 1994 show, the American people did not give Gingrich & Co. a mandate to conduct policy as such. The people are not swayed by simple solutions to complex social issues.
Dear congressional candidate, some Virginians may be conservative and some may be liberal, but they're not stupid.
TIM PETCHEL
Virginia Beach, Oct. 20, 1996 by CNB