THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 7, 1996 TAG: 9609060014
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 32 lines
I was quite appalled over the Democrats' use of ``tokens'' during their national convention.
Right from the start of their event, the Democrats shamelessly utilized people who had recently experienced tragic misfortunes, in an attempt to blunt what they perceived as an edge that Senator Dole had being a seriously wounded war veteran.
Not to diminish the courage of actor Christopher Reeve, and at the risk of being considered heartless, ask yourself if he would have been a speaker on the first night of the convention had he been of sound body. The answer is a resounding NO! I believe he was used as a token.
NBC commentator Tom Brokaw even said after Reeve spoke that ``Bob Dole, if he is watching, must be gnashing his teeth.'' What a thoughtless comment.
If any in the country could have empathized with Reeve, Bob Dole would be the one. You see, Bob Dole is not a candidate for president of the United States because he is handicapped; rather he is a candidate in spite of his handicap. It is said that the Democrats used Reeve because he is handicapped.
On the same night, the Democrats brought out James Brady, who was seriously wounded in the assassination attempt on President Reagan. What do you expect from Mr. Brady and his wife after the catastrophe they experienced? Pure emotionalism, and not a serious discussion of a very important issue facing the American people, the legality of gun-control.
ROBERT A. MACCHIA
Chesapeake, Aug. 28, 1996 by CNB