Gary Hart

Concerning the editorial “Please Sit Down, Gary” (Sept. 10), every citizen has a right to publicly express political opinions. Given this, I find it more than slightly ironic that a major newspaper, which routinely presents diverse views in its editorial pages, should advise Hart that the most patriotic act he can perform is to watch the upcoming presidential campaign from the sidelines--quietly.

In the editorial Hart was also referred to as a “disgraced” politician. Disgrace, however, is in the eye of the beholder. Personally, I find the private sexual behavior of consenting adults to be a strangely narrow and novel way of definitively evaluating character and judgment. But this appears to be a minority viewpoint . . . and far be it from me to question the wisdom of the majority on so touchy a subject.

JOHN PARSONS

Los Angeles