Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 31, 1994 TAG: 9411150013
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
We have an opportunity to replace Robb with a man who is known for his own accomplishments. Perhaps we'll be fortunate enough to have another man known for his own accomplishments replace Warner when his current term expires. We've learned that Warner is no Elizabeth Taylor, and Robb is no Lynda Bird Johnson!
However, the choice in the present Senate race is this: Robb supports a strong federal government that's taking our freedoms away, one by one. Oliver North supports the return of our freedoms to us. I cast my vote for freedom and North.
JESSE H. GEARHART JR.
ROANOKE
Reagan, Bush misused North
MUCH HAS been written and said about Oliver North's character, so may I add my thoughts?
It seems that anyone who watched his televised testimony and followed his case should readily see that this honorable man is simply a scapegoat victim of a power struggle that took place between the Reagan-Bush administration and Congress.
Anyone who believes that we've heard all of the truth from that administration's top leaders is either ill-informed or naive, to say the least.
North is a highly dedicated person who did his job under the most difficult conditions that anyone could imagine. Furthermore, he's a patriot of the highest order.
Virginians haven't had an opportunity to vote for a patriot of his caliber since Thomas Jefferson. I urge all voters to get behind this abused but decent and highly dedicated man, and put him in Congress as our next U.S. senator.
HAROLD RAMSUER
ROANOKE
Sen. Robb is stable candidate
ON NOV. 8, we have the choice of voting for a candidate who is experienced in his job, or one who appeals to voters with sound bites and slogans. Sen. Charles Robb has his faults (don't we all?), but compared with Oliver North, he's as clean as a hound's tooth.
I don't trust anyone who constantly touts his patriotism and hides behind the flag. Robb's service in Vietnam is just as commendable as North's, but Robb doesn't wear it on his sleeve. We must look beyond the vacuous gap-toothed grin, and vote for a sensible, stable candidate who will continue to work for everyone. But if you want your public schools closed, and Congress controlled by Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, by all means, vote for North - and good luck.
JOHN S. SLAYTON
ROANOKE
Robb the better man in the race
EVIDENCE indicates that Oliver North and Sen. Charles Robb have led less than exemplary lives. The difference is that while Robb's transgressions have been personal and private, North's have concerned the performance of public, professional duties. I have observed no allegations about wrongdoing in Robb's public duties, and there have been no charges directed at North's private life. Are we electing a moral or a political leader? The answer clearly points to Robb as the logical choice.
A further point concerns the extent to which a person is willing to admit past misdeeds, and to make amends for them. Robb has been forthcoming in this area while North continues, in the face of growing evidence to the contrary, to deny that he has done anything wrong. If we really believe that confession and repentance are a good thing, Robb is clearly the better man in this respect.
BASKA SMITH
SHAWSVILLE
North grasps gun rights
THE CANDIDATES' positions on banning semiautomatic rifles show how little Sen. Charles Robb or Marshall Coleman know about the issue.
Semiautomatic rifles aren't assault weapons. Assault weapons will fire fully automatically; semiautomatic weapons won't. The guns Robb helped ban and the additional guns Coleman wants to ban operate no differently from the ``good'' guns both say hunters and sportsmen use.
Coleman states, ``You will never see them in the hands of a hunter or sportsman or someone who wants to defend his home.'' If less than 1 percent of these guns are used in crime, then who does own them? The majority are law-abiding citizens. If I ever have to defend my home, family, life or freedom, one of these guns ``designed specifically for killing people'' is what I want in my hand.
Coleman and Robb say they support the Second Amendment rights of citizens to protect themselves and to enjoy sporting and hunting activities. The Second Amendment has nothing to do with hunting or sporting rights. That amendment gives citizens the right to bear arms to protect themselves from the government, should this become necessary. Oliver North understands this issue, and he'll get my vote.
GARY W. LONG
BEDFORD
North fits mold of Hitler, Koresh
WHAT DO Adolf Hitler, Jim Jones and David Koresh have in common? They were charismatic men who gained control of people by preaching an ``us against them'' gospel that polarizes and isolates its adherents, thereby perpetuating itself.
It appears to me that Oliver North fits that mold. He's certainly a charismatic speaker, and his message is ``us against them.''
North has never held public office, so we have only one way of predicting what he might do if he were in a position of power: his previous record with the Reagan administration. Enough people who worked with him have told of his lack of integrity to make me feel that it would be dangerous to entrust him with our country and our state.
ANN L. FRIEL
ROANOKE
Let the Bible guide voters
WE'LL BE asked soon to choose a U.S. senator for Virginia. Two candidates are morally flawed, and the third has a depth of commitment on issues that appears to extend only as far as the next opinion poll.
The press tells us that people are angry, despite the highest employment levels, the best economy and the lowest annual budget deficits in years. In a country where schoolchildren once were taught that it was their patriotic duty to vote their conscience and then support the choice of the people, the prophets of hatred now say that it's patriotic to despise our president, and cast votes only to show that hate.
One man can't possibly win, and his continued candidacy will only serve to give us a ``winner'' without a majority, allowing the other loser to forever cry foul. Of the others, one betrayed his family, and has asked forgiveness from them and God. The other betrayed his president and his nation, and says he's proud to have done so.
Some who claim to be religious leaders support the unrepentant candidate of hate, yet my Bible teaches that those who humbly ask forgiveness for their sins are more worthy than those who flaunt their righteousness before the world. I'll cast my vote based on those teachings.
JIM MARCHMAN
BLACKSBURG
Giving trust to Oliver North
CONCERNING the upcoming election between Oliver North, Sen. Charles Robb and Marshall Coleman:
One issue that really concerns me is your attacks against North and his role in Iran-Contra.
Though I do not know everything there is to know on this matter, I do have this information to reflect on. My husband and I have career military fathers. Though they're very different, one thing they see eye to eye on is this: No one who was in North's rank or position had the ability to make the kinds of decisions he made without direct knowledge and authorization of his superiors.
Both my father and father-in-law would trust their lives to North in a battle situation. Given their experience in Vietnam and the volatile Middle East, they know what trusting their lives to someone means. What higher or greater trust can anyone have than this?
KATHY HEDLUND
COVINGTON
Coleman has character
VIRGINIA'S citizens have a choice. Marshall Coleman is a gentleman. In four campaigns, no dirt has been brought up about his character. I think he could work in harmony with Sen. Warner.
I object to money from California and Texas being poured into Virginia to elect our senator. I'm tired of offices being bought.
The news media say that 45 percent of the voters would vote for Coleman if they thought he could win.
Go to the polls, ladies and gentlemen, and vote. And Coleman will win.
KATHERINE C. BURNETT
DUGSPUR
North's sneers are tiresome
I'M TIRED of all the Clinton-bashing that fills the air these days. Many of us admire and applaud our president and his family.
It's particularly despicable to hear Oliver North's sneering voice criticize our president, who is doing a splendid job of stopping the dictatorial threats in Iraq and Haiti.
I say, God bless our president.
ANN S. VAUGHN
LEXINGTON
And the Oscar goes to Ollie
OLIVER North is a born politician. His lineage stretches back to the Trail of Tears, the pro-slavery South, Teapot Dome, Watergate, and the Iran-Contra scandal. Since he first announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Charles Robb, we see more clearly each day the true nature of the web he's woven and entangled himself in. We've seen a campaign based on slight-of-hand statements and hollow promises.
What confuses me the most about his whistle-stop bellowing is his failure to support the fine arts, specifically the theater, in America since he's one of the greatest actors this country has ever produced. Every day, he demonstrates his talent for changing costumes and masks quickly and easily, and playing a variety of roles - from gun-toting good old boy to right-wing Christian fundamentalist to patriotic freedom fighter. Because his campaign is utterly laughable, it's tempting to label it a comedy. But in reality, it's a tragedy because many of us forget that it's only a play and he's only acting.
FRED W. CAMPBELL
SALEM
Thanks a lot - for nothing
A MOMENTOUS date is rapidly approaching - Nov. 8, Election Day. I urge everyone to look closely at the issues and vote your conscience.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to the Roanoke Times & World-News for its unbiased coverage of the candidates with news articles calling North a convicted felon, a liar and all-around terrible person, and articles that say Robb cares and feels your pain. It must be unbiased because its readers would see right through anything else, wouldn't they?
JOSEPH E. SCHROER
ELLISTON
Democrats play the race card
DOUG WILDER has said that Charles Robb isn't fit to be a U.S. senator. They've feuded for years and seemed to dislike each other intensely. Why the sudden reversal?
Now Wilder has endorsed Robb, saying that he doesn't do this lightly. Could the recent meeting with President Clinton be the reason for his sudden change of heart? Is it possible that he's been promised some political favor that could only be dished out by our upstanding president in exchange for Wilder's endorsement of Robb? Is our president that fearful of Oliver North that he had to bribe a black man hoping to swing the black vote? I consider this a racist attitude. They're depending and banking on this disgusting prejudice in our society that Wilder condemns so viciously, but constantly manipulates to his advantage.
And Wilder, whose integrity has been questionable in the past, is now putting aside all his animosity for the good of the Democratic Party. Yeah, right. More like for his own good. If it looks, sounds and smells like a bribe, then what do we call it? But hey, it's for the overall good, right? Maybe Wilder will make a terrific ambassador to Africa. At least then we'll get him out of Virginia politics.
CATHERINE C. OVERSTREET
ROANOKE
North's stands are not biblical
WHEN SPEAKING to a group of conservative Christians, Oliver North claimed he stands for a government based upon biblical values. What he stands for isn't biblical; therefore, his claim is phony. A person whose religion is mainly emotional, without proper thought content, can easily feel that God approves of his own ideas, his own position on things political. He's inclined to claim God for his own side without digging deep enough to see what the Bible teaches. It's for that reason he's justly criticized for his brand of religion.
North objects to being called a bigot. Many fundamentalists are bigots. It's the kind of religion that justified killing Jews and Muslims in the crusades. In our own time and country, it's led some to think they would be justified in killing a person who differs from them about abortions.
North does whatever he wants, and says whatever seems advantageous to him at the time. He doesn't stick to facts. He's a large sea mile from the teaching of Jesus and the prophets. We need a leader who will honor the conscience of people with differing views, and have respect for the many religions in our pluralistic society. North's smile and pleasing personality win over many people, but I hope he doesn't become our senator.
HOWARD R. PETERS
SALEM
He who lies least wins
WHAT IS the difference in the degree of lying? One states he was in a hotel room with a pretty woman, and she merely gave him a massage. No one believed that one, except his wife or another liberal. He attended parties where dope was being freely used, but he knew nothing about it. I don't want anyone to represent me who isn't any more aware of his surroundings than that.
Now, for the other one. He claims he withheld the full truth from Congress about the Nicaraguan bang-up. I cannot honestly state that I've been fully informed of the lies that he's been accused of telling by another liar.
President Clinton has lied to Americans about a lot of issues. He makes a big splash when it comes to sending our children to war, but he isn't so swift when his turn comes to fight.
We shouldn't base our vote on who is lying the least. It's time for a change in the way our government is operated. If that doesn't work, then make another change. Eventually, they'll get the message.
HAROLD C. JENNINGS
ROANOKE
Memo: ***CORRECTION***