Senate Hearings on Campaign Fund-Raising

Bob Dole offered to testify before Sen. Fred Thompson’s committee (Oct. 24). Why? Because the White House videotapes prove a deliberate plan by Clinton/Gore to violate finance limits set on both presidential campaigns in 1996. Dole was limited to $37 million of hard money after the primaries, and so was Bill Clinton. But starting in mid-year 1995, Clinton diverted soft money to a massive ad campaign against Dole and the Republicans, using commercials specifically directed and sometimes rewritten by Clinton himself. Presidential campaign control of soft-money advertising is illegal because it violates spending limits.

Clinton’s stock answer to these facts is to demand new campaign finance reform. The president cynically undermined the letter and purpose of the campaign finance law to destroy his opponent.

BERNARD A. BARR

Lafayette, Calif.

* President Clinton, although an intelligent man, confuses what is legal with what is ethical. He was twice elected by voters who consciously disregarded the “character issue” in favor of an appealing public persona. If we allow style to supplant substance and clever repartee, such as practiced on talk radio, to be prized over wisdom and tolerance, then a sense of fairness or what is right and even good manners become anachronisms.

Each time Clinton speaks of the need for campaign reform on his way to the next large fund-raiser, I wonder what a man without any apparent conviction in basic values is doing in our house on Pennsylvania Avenue. Reform will only start with a sense of public outrage and a willingness by each of us to take personal responsibility for the state of our government.

ROBERT A. STOCKLY

Sierra Madre

* The scandal--politicians sell “access” for millions of dollars.

The investigation--where was the president standing and which phone did he use?

The reform--make unions get written permission from every member before contributing to a campaign.

The finale? Send in the clowns; never mind, the Republicans are here.

BRENT MEEKER

Camarillo

* Watching the Republicans go after the Democrats on the ethics and funding issues is like watching the ethically impaired go after the ethically challenged. If the people really wanted change they would stop voting for politicians. I, for one, am not holding my breath.

ED GRUNDMAN

Canoga Park