Republican Class Warfare

Michael Huffington (“Class Warfare Is Off-Target, Hypocritical,” Column Right, Feb. 11) unwittingly put his finger on just what is wrong with American politics--the influence of a small moneyed elite both in defining the issues and in choosing candidates who espouse them. Whether it is Huffington or Steve Forbes attempting to buy high office with their fathers’ money or high officeholders like Bob Dole spending money supplied by the Gallo family and Archer Daniels Midland, it is money that is talking.

Like many of his fellow conservatives, Huffington seems to find this situation just fine. By equating wealth with virtue, they somehow contrive to cast new-age robber barons as philosopher kings. In Huffington’s world, the wealthy do not achieve their positions through any of the many advantages that great wealth can provide. Rather, their great wealth is evidence of their superior merit. Ipso facto, enriching the wealthy becomes equivalent to providing opportunity to all--directed as it is to society’s most deserving members.

If the Republican Party truly wants to be the party of economic opportunity that Huffington says it is, then it must focus on opportunity for all and not just for the fortunate few.

CHARLES J. SCHWARTZ

Venice

It is nice to know that privileged rich guys who inherit their fortunes stick together.

I just hope Huffington is not trolling for a vice presidential nod from Forbes; otherwise, we might be stuck with two privileged rich guys making decisions for, and controlling the purse strings of, those of us who actually work for a living. ALFRED KATZ

Sherman Oaks

The only possible class warfare would be internecine. All these guys are Richie Rich, only Forbes is Richie Richest. As Forbes pointed out, Bob Dole has been on the public payroll all his recent life and is a millionaire. Pat Buchanan even quit a good job to get the financial rewards of running for president.

The presidency is for the rich. If not at the start, surely at the finish. Bill Clinton even admits that with good health he can make a good living. If you are not rich you can’t get a new job after the age of 35 or 40 anyway.

RICHARD J. STALL JR.

Los Angeles

When I think of how the Christian Coalition (Feb. 12) has spurned presidential candidate Forbes, I am reminded of that famous passage in “The Brothers Karamazov” where Christ returns to earth to face the Grand Inquisitor, only to be rejected by him and the church.

True, Forbes is not Jesus Christ. But he’s just the sort of candidate that the Christian Coalition should have embraced. Families won’t be strong as long as their lives depend on the earnings of two breadwinners. Charities won’t be solvent as long as taxpayers are too tapped out to give. Grandparents won’t feel secure as long as Social Security and Medicare are going bankrupt. In short, Forbes is the closest thing to a savior that we are likely to see among presidential candidates.

JOY ANTHONY

Newport Beach

After watching the parade of GOP presidential candidates in Iowa, New Hampshire, etc., I know Clinton isn’t much--but to think one of these carbon-copy jerks has a real shot at becoming president is almost terrifying.

JOHN McLELLAN

Huntington Beach Caption: DOROTHY AHLE, Malden, Mass.