Campaign Contributions to Clinton, Dole

* Re “Clinton Aided Indonesia Regime” and “Dole Lent Clout to Gallo Winery,” Oct. 16: Your two articles had contiguous and similar reports about Bob Dole and Bill Clinton. Dole had accepted 1992 campaign donations from U.S. companies, a California winery and Florida sugar growers, and supported their positions; this was/is legal and is old news.

The real breaking news is that Clinton has accepted (possibly illegal) donations from an Indonesian conglomerate that has been accused of domestic money laundering as well as international influence-peddling. This Clinton contributor immediately received the benefit of Secretary of Commerce Mickey Kantor’s intervention and successful retention of trade privileges for Indonesia. This firm also hired Webster Hubbell after his Cabinet resignation at least until his prison sentence began, among many other questionable activities.

So while you made a lame attempt to compare these two stories, and group them into “every- body does this,” to anyone who read the articles and other coverage, you failed miserably.

JIM EARLEY

Laguna Niguel

* Your two Oct. 16 articles on Indonesian political contributions reveal more than they explain about the similarities and differences between business practices in East and Southeast Asia and those of the United States. Private-sector cooperation in trade is a sine qua non in both countries and leads to reciprocity in both. What makes the difference is the American view that, in contrast to private-sector activities, reciprocity between private-sector (business) and public-sector activities is a violation of public trust and carries legal penalties.

Kantor should have been able to predict the high-minded, election-year Republican frenzy over the Riady family’s contributions to the Democratic National Committee. But perhaps not.

CHARLES G. GUNNERSON

Laguna Hills

* As a person with intractable epilepsy, I have been wondering what I could do to secure employment for myself. I was hoping to find financing to train to start a home-based business that would allow me flexible hours so I could work around my partial complex seizures. It would mean so much to also be able to provide employment opportunities to others who are disabled. I’ve longed to set up a foundation that could help.

I didn’t think that I would ever find a means of financing such a huge endeavor, but after reading about contributions Gallo made to Dole, I realize I can just write the Gallo family and ask for the money. Gosh, I didn’t know they cared so much about the employment of the disabled. I mean, they said they gave the money to the Dole Foundation--which also provides job opportunities to the disabled--and neither expected nor received any favors from the senator. How perfect! I’ll write back and let you know when my check arrives.

DEBBIE HOLGATE

Chino Hills