THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 19, 1994 TAG: 9410190005
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
A Sen. Oliver North would be an embarrassment to the collective intellect of Virginia. I would despair if my native state were to drift so far into conservative extremism that it would willingly have those extreme views represented in the Senate by a habitually prevaricating demagogue.
Ollie is one more symptom of Virginia's unfortunate proximity to our nation's capital. The concentration of venality, megalomania and naked self-interest that Washington attracts spills over into Northern Virginia takes up residence there. It is an accident of geography - and our misfortune - that North is running in Virginia rather than, say, South Dakota.
Virginians should have no illusions that this transplant would represent the interests of an ideology before the interests of the commonwealth. The preponderance of out-of-state contributions to his campaign is ample evidence of that.
On the plus side, Virginia has the distinct privilege, while the eyes of the nation are upon it, of saying to North and his fellow extremists, ``Not in my state, you won't!'' Let us exercise that privilege.
Chuck Robb has worked hard and has represented the commonwealth well both as governor and senator. His errors of judgment in his personal life have nothing to do with public service.
Ollie North has done nothing for Virginia but embarrass it. His errors of judgment have everything to do with public service. His candidacy is a tasteless joke. If he is elected, Virginia will be the punch line.
ROBIN C. CHAPMAN
Virginia Beach, Oct. 14, 1994 by CNB