THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 31, 1994 TAG: 9410310039
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A4 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
You might think that the Virginia Senate race would be no laughing matter, but you'd be wrong. Across the nation, commentators have been unable to contain their mirth at the spectacle.
For some reason, political pundits keep appearing on Oliver L.North's mailing list and receiving his invitation to become contributors and members of an elite advisory board.
Robert Schmuhl, chairman of the American studies department at Notre Dame, got one and made light of it in the Chicago Tribune. Bill Tammeus of the Kansas City Star (Oct. 24) got his Ollie mailing as well.
Tammeus was surprised since he had recently noted in print ``that North had told high school students, `I did not lie to Congress,' which I called further proof that some days it's hard for a satirist like me to be funnier than the news.
``I also noted in print that North has been calling President Clinton `the worst president we've ever had.' Which I suggested was like a thief griping about the police chief.
``I also said that the Sen. Chuck Robb-Ollie North race must make Virginians wish their state had unlisted voting booths.''
But Tammeus is touched to be invited to give his two 2 cents' worth to North, ``although I bet I won't get a seat on the Advisory Board if I don't kick in money.'' So he decides to return the 2 cents North has sent him in order to get a chance to ``offer my most serious advice: Quit the race. And tell Chuck Robb to quit. And then tell Virginia voters to start over.''
David Holmstrom, in the Christian Science Monitor (Oct. 25), bemoaned the quality of those running for office this year. ``Behind the slick TV ads attempting to retool images of candidates from Virginia to California lurks a fundamental American question: Where oh where are ethics?''
Holmstrom quotes Michael Johnston, a Colgate political scientist, on how Robb and North seek to finesse character problems. North says he lied ``for the greater good'' and, by the way, ``don't believe anyone who accuses me.'' Whereas, according to Johnston, Robb ``is trying to reinterpret events by applying the did-not-inhale defense of sex.''
Erik Lacitis of the Seattle Times (Oct. 23) complains, perhaps facetiously, that politics in Washington state suffers by comparison with Virginia. ``Most of the time, elections here are between Relatively Nice and Relatively Competent Candidate A, and Relatively Nice and Relatively Competent Candidate B. B-O-R-I-N-G races.''
And then he says, ``Let's compare our sweatered candidates to those in Virginia. There, the nightly news brings some excellent mud-slinging between Sen. Charles Robb and Oliver North, who's trying to unseat him. Adulterer. Liar. Dishonored the flag. Immoral. That's something you can put at the top of the news.''
David Dahl of the St. Petersburg Times (Oct. 24) points out that, like Sen. Jesse Helms of North Carolina, the former fund-raising record-holder, ``North's fund-raising strength is rooted in dramatic direct-mail appeals that have kept his name in front of the public.'' And he quotes this subtle line from one of North's mailings: ``When I am elected senator, Ted Kennedy and his liberal buddies are going to squirm like a can of worms on the first day of fishing season.'' MEMO: Compiled by staff writer Keith Monroe with assistance from staff
researcher Peggy Earle.
KEYWORDS: SENATE RACE CANDIDATE CAMPAIGN by CNB