Rep. Elton Gallegly

Re Joseph M. Garcia’s letter about Rep. Elton Gallegly not “getting it” with regard to how the country feels about the Republican attempt to impeach President Clinton.

There is good reason for this. Rep. Gallegly either does not read his constituents’ mail or he chooses to ignore it. On Sept. 22, I wrote Rep. Gallegly a letter stating that “I am tired of it [the current congressional activities on impeachment] and so is the vast majority of our citizenry. Someone of stature has to have the fortitude to stand up and just say that. This is what Joseph Welch heroically did to Sen. Joe McCarthy in 1954 and thereby put an end to his terrorizing tactics. Only a Republican can do that now, so let it be you. Censure Clinton with dispatch, close the books and get on with the country’s proper business. Not only will I be grateful to you, but so will that vast majority.”

In response I received a letter signed by Mr. Gallegly that began, “Thank you for contacting me regarding your support for the impeachment of President Clinton . . . “ and went on to summarize the findings of Special Counsel Kenneth Starr.

I wonder! Was this an error, stupidity or callous disregard?

MAXWELL WHITE, Ventura