Clinton’s Candidacy

Susan Estrich’s article (“Consensual Sex Shouldn’t End a Political Career,” Opinion, Jan. 26) raises some very troubling issues, not least of which is the kind of society we have become.

Estrich defends Clinton’s sex life (as long as it’s “consensual”) as being a purely private affair (no pun intended) that’s none of the public’s business. This is just one more example of the atomization of our society. Unless an act is perceived as affecting us directly, it is “none of our business.”

Such thinking ignores that, if the stories printed about Clinton are true, he has broken promises made in one of the most public of settings--the marriage ceremony. There Clinton presumably promised to be faithful to his wife before friends, a minister or other official authorized by the state, and of course his bride-to-be.

Also, if the allegations about Clinton are true, what does this say about his character? If one takes promises so lightly before his loved ones, how will he view promises made in front of those who are strangers? These sorts of issues seem to be especially the public’s business.

Estrich’s analysis can only partly be explained by her ties to Michael Dukakis and the Democratic Party. Her thinking is a breed of individualism that has helped to cut society adrift from any notion of moral moorings.

MICHAEL McKENZIE, Torrance