Gov. Pete Wilson

Re “Two Sides of Gov. Wilson in Illegal Immigrant Debate,” editorial, March 27: I always understood that a person who says one thing and does the opposite was a hypocrite, not some literary character.

In 1994, Wilson became the nation’s leading immigrant basher to save his political career, and it worked: Prop. 187 passed and he was reelected. I have no doubt Wilson understood Prop. 187 to have been fatally flawed, as well as cruel and inhumane. But his “win at all costs” strategy placed his own political survival above common sense and decency.

Perhaps it now has become apparent even to Wilson that the costs of his strategy are unacceptably high. The racial and ethnic divisions he exacerbated among Californians have not healed. Latinos, often considered a natural Republican constituency, voted against Wilson’s party in record proportions in 1996. And the inhumanity and cruelty of some of Prop. 187’s elements are coming home to roost.

It is small wonder Wilson is backpedaling. Mr. Hyde has not reverted to Dr. Jekyll. Instead, we now are looking behind the curtain and rather than the great and powerful, there stands the small and contrite, trying to avert a disaster of his own making.

ARTURO VARGAS

Exec. Dir., Educational Fund

National Assn. of Latino

Elected Officials, Los Angeles

The editorial indicates that Wilson “rarely advocates on behalf of illegal immigrants.” This is indeed shocking. Could it be (gasp), that Gov. Wilson formulates his policies on what he believes is in the best interests of the legal residents of California?

LANCE B. SJOGREN

Torrance