Selecting the Presidential Candidates

We write to take issue with the article by Jack Beatty (Op-Ed Page, April 15) wherein he concurs with a suggestion (by conservative political analyst Norman Ornstein) for a Dukakis-(Georgia Sen. Sam) Nunn ticket for the Democratic Party. While it is highly improbable that Ornstein has the good fortune of the Democratic Party genuinely at heart, our specific objection is to Beatty’s gratuitous slam at National Organization for Women President Molly Yard and NOW, as the only element in the party that would object to putting Nunn on the presidential track. That denigration of the importance of women’s vote--especially to the Democratic Party--is evident throughout the piece. Beatty seems to be concerned with bringing back the “moderate” white male vote to the Democratic Party. He takes for granted that women--who have consistently been more likely to remain faithful to the party--would continue to “be reasonable” and countenance the nomination for vice president of a man who opposes the right of choice on abortion and who favors aid to the Contras. Those positions aren’t moderate; they are ultraconservative!

History has shown that the Democratic Party has achieved its greatest promise when it has looked forward, not backward.

Indeed, maybe it’s time to point out that white males are not a majority of the population, and they are an even lower percentage of the population likely to vote!

KAREN M. WINGARD

MARGUERITE RENNER

ANNE NOBLE

FRAN WOOD

SHARON GIRDNER

TOBY OSOS

DEBORAH A. COHEN

Pasadena