Presidential Town Hall Debate

* Re “Clinton’s Ethics, Integrity Assailed by Dole in Debate,” Oct. 17: I am surprised your report of the San Diego Clinton-Dole debate did not headline Bob Dole’s colossal gaffe when he said the economy was in its worst shape of the century. If he really believes what he said, he is hardly qualified to make sensible economic proposals or decisions. If he knows better, which I suspect, his integrity and honesty are, to say the least, questionable.

SYLVAN GOLLIN

Claremont

* An Oct. 16 story in Metro says, “The Clinton administration dangled an enticing financial reward before the Los Angeles region Tuesday, suggesting that if the president is reelected next month his administration would probably give special breaks intended to improve the communities along the Alameda Corridor road and rail project.”

I have obviously been under a delusion for some time, because I always thought it was against the law to buy votes, and if the above statement from HUD Secretary Henry G. Cisneros isn’t a blatant example of the corrupt administration of Slick Willie Clinton, then I don’t know what is.

Clinton asked us all in the debate, is California better off financially now than it was in 1992? My answer is hell, no. We have lost thousands of jobs and businesses along with them, not counting the massive drop in real estate, and yet, according to the polls, I wonder why we are even bothering to have the election.

GARY FROST

Covina

* In the debate, Dole kept saying “my word is my bond.” That may once have been true, but it is clear the man has sold out to the radical wing of the Republican Party. Dole was once a moderate conservative who favored budget balancing, sensible affirmative action and the seeking of common ground with his opponents. Today he espouses deficit-increasing tax cuts, the abolishment of affirmative action and can’t even get a “tolerance plank” inserted in the Republican Party platform.

Dole has sold his soul to the ultraconservatives. I’m voting against him not because of what he’s done, but because I’m afraid of what he’ll do.

BRIAN CLUGGISH

San Diego

* Re “A Tale of Glass Houses and Stones,” Column Left, Oct. 15:

Robert Scheer continues to show us how far out on the margins he really is. The polls show that even 50% of the people who plan to vote for Clinton know that he’s a weasel, but will vote for him anyway. On the other hand, Dole’s opponents can’t help but admit that Dole is a man of honesty and integrity. I would trust Dole with the security of the country, but I wouldn’t let Clinton baby-sit my pet snake.

WARREN H. RAABE

Long Beach

* The reason the “character issue” is a nonstarter in the presidential campaign is that in today’s uncivil political environment anyone who wants the job is suspect.

BARRY VANDERKELEN

Los Angeles

* I kept hoping during the town hall debate that one selfless soul would address the candidates about the plight of millions of others with whom we share this planet, the animals. Their protection and the issues of our environment were never mentioned once during either debate.

BILL DYER

Venice

* All this talk of Dole’s alleged hypocrisy in criticizing Clinton on the pardon issue while himself advocating pardons for Iran-Contra figures like Caspar Weinberger should be put in its proper perspective (“Ex-Prosecutor Alleges Dole ‘Hypocrisy,’ ” Oct. 16).

Though Weinberger’s actions were clearly wrong, it is important to remember that his offenses occurred as a result of his service to the United States. Those involved in Whitewater only served themselves, in particular their own pecuniary interests. Indeed, pecuniary interests that, they presumably knew, would ultimately come at the expense of the U.S. taxpayer. Moreover, it is even more important to note that President Bush, not Dole, pardoned Weinberger. Dole had no personal interest in Weinberger’s pardon. As regards the Whitewater players, Clinton cannot make the same claim.

KENNETH D. DeGIORGIO

Los Angeles

* Regarding the issue of character which the Republican mouthpieces seem so desperate to raise, let me say that Clinton showed more character when he actively opposed the Vietnam War, which cost the lives of 50,000 American soldiers, and which everyone--including Robert McNamara--acknowledges was a colossal mistake.

BEN BELL

Studio City

* The Oct. 16 editorial cartoon by Conrad was a new low in journalistic taste. Whatever else might be said about Dole, he is a true war hero who suffered greatly, and continues to suffer, for this country. To poke fun at his war wounds, or the circumstances that caused them, is shameful.

LOWELL C. BROWN

Northridge