‘92 Democratic Candidates

As a lifelong Democrat concerned about my party’s future, I read Robert Shogan’s article (“Democrats Must Shed Past to Have Future, Critics Say,” Part A, Sept. 17, with great interest. Two observations:

I think Shogan is wrong in creating a negative impression that the unions are “a declining authority” as a political interest group. On the contrary, I believe that any candidate for President in his right mind would be elated to secure the endorsement of an institution that was able to organize a Labor Day weekend rally with 250,000 local union representatives and supporters to demonstrate on behalf of the national AFL-CIO’s political/legislative agenda.

Organized labor still has plenty of political clout in Congress and in state legislatures.

Speaking of interest groups, Shogan overlooked a “sleeping” political giant, the 43 million Americans with disabilities, their supporters and advocates. One Democratic hopeful, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa, has the inside track to this group. Why? It was Harkin who served in Congress last year as the chief sponsor of the Americans With Disabilities Act, which President Bush signed into law on July 26, 1990.

JACK LEIGHTON RUGH

San Gabriel