THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 2, 1994 TAG: 9411020004
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A20 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
While he talks a lot about being his own man, Oliver North just repeats the old formulas of conservative Republicans. Chuck Robb, however, has a proven record of thinking for himself.
On the Persian Gulf war, Robb broke with most of his party to support Operation Desert Storm, and he was right.
On the budget and defense, Robb has opposed traditional liberal calls for more spending on social programs and less on defense. In fact, his efforts so riled his own party that he was removed from the Senate Budget Committee. But Chuck Robb should wear the scorn of liberals like a badge of honor. Because he's right again.
Sen. Robb has been ahead of the whole country in calling for some of the most innovative efforts of the era. In the 1980s, he was talking about many of the things we're doing today: national service for our young people, so they can learn responsibility and earn money for college; welfare reform, to get people off the dole and into work; and government reform, to save money and improve services.
Sen. Robb's philosophy goes beyond the traditional left-right distinction. Unlike either of his opponents, he speaks for the independent streak that has always made our country work.
SHIRLEY H. MULDERRIG
Virginia Beach, Oct. 19, 1994 by CNB