This Is Politics, Not a Popularity Contest

“The Player,” Faye Fiore’s article about our First Lady’s lack of popularity (Jan. 4), serves as another reminder of the very dubious stature women hold in our country.

As a cheerleader in high school, then after college as a part-time model, I was very popular with the boys.

A few years later, as an assistant press secretary to the Carter-Mondale Re-Election Campaign for the State of New York, I became less popular with the boys.

Fiore’s article states Hillary Clinton’s popularity is a “dismal” 48% compared to Barbara Bush’s 83%. I venture to say my popularity as a cheerleader and model was around 83%, but it certainly wasn’t above 48% in the fall of 1980. Sadly, not much has changed in 15 years.

Mrs. Clinton is a strong woman who believes our country can be better and that we can be a great and generous people, not a spiteful, small-minded country club with limited membership. Aren’t these ideals that should be respected, not subjected to a good ol’ boy popularity contest?

ILONA SAARI, Studio City

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“The Player,” by Faye Fiore, includes a remark by author Blanche Wiesen Cook to the effect that Hillary Rodham Clinton aspires to model herself after another First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt.

All I can say (and I paraphrase a well-known senator) is, Hillary, you are no Eleanor.

MAURINE REEDY RUZEK, Los Angeles