Oliver North

* As one who has been an active, enthusiastic Republican for over 35 years, I have always taken considerable pride in our party’s positions of law and order, patriotism and personal responsibility. The fact that most GOP politicians rank high in “character” has added to the esteem with which I have held my party. However, my love affair with the GOP suffered a severe jolt on June 4 when Republican delegates in the great state of Virginia saw fit to nominate Oliver North for a seat in the United States Senate.

For it was North, driven by a perverted, arrogant sense of “patriotism,” who worked to circumvent the will of the American electorate--as reflected by members of the U.S. Congress--in favor of his own political views. Such utter contempt for the Constitution must be rejected by all responsible citizens, irrespective of their views about Congress.

VIRGINIA BEALS

Sonora

* I don’t know how much longer I can call myself a Republican. I’m disgusted with the likes of Sens. John W. Warner (R-Va.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.), who won’t endorse the candidacy of Oliver North for Senate.

North won the nomination fair and square, utilizing the democratic process. What is the problem with these so-called Republican leaders that they won’t respect the wishes of their own party?

These senators don’t seem to have the same beliefs that I do, enunciated so well by North. When are they going to realize that their brand of Republicanism is out of step with those of us in “the hinterlands,” defined as anything outside the Beltway?

STANLEY CARSON

Long Beach