Presidential ‘Dirty Campaign’
Another phony issue has reared its ugly head in this presidential campaign. I don’t believe that the Republicans have consciously exploited racial tensions. They may have inadvertently done so but, I can give no more credence to this charge than to the Republicans’ assertions that Dukakis is soft on crime and defense.
How can Dukakis be soft on crime when he has lowered the crime rate of his state by 15%, put 30% more police officers on the streets, and put more drug offenders behind bars than ever before? How can Dukakis be soft on defense when he has the full backing of one of this nation’s foremost experts on defense, Sen. Sam Nunn (D-Ga.)?
When a campaign gets down in the mud many ugly charges surface. But they have nothing to do with helping the voters decide who can best address the real issues, such as improving education, increasing America’s economic competitiveness, bringing down the federal deficit and fighting a real war on drugs.
JAMES L. DESPER JR.
Panorama City
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