Al Gore

As conservatives begin to fear that Al Gore may have an advantage of incumbency, the irrational attacks become more and more ridiculous. I am certain that they plan to put doubts in the minds of the public in the same relentless manner that they did against the president, starting in 1994: one accusation after another, without proof.

Now along comes Arianna Huffington (“How Can Gore Put Trade Above Lives?” Column Right, June 29) excoriating the vice president for not providing each South African AIDS sufferer with a $500-per-week drug cocktail. I think we know where she and her fellow conservatives stand when it comes to health care coverage for all Americans. Just ask Hillary Rodham Clinton!

STUART LUBIN

Los Angeles

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Bill Press (Commentary, June 29) would have us believe that bad-mouthing President Clinton by Vice President Gore, now that he wants to be president, is going to help Gore’s campaign. He said they worked very close together, now they don’t. To me it is making Gore appear to be weaker, by taking bad advice and wanting to win the presidency at all costs.

What this scandal has shown me is that most politicians have done very inexcusable things. The difference is that Clinton got caught. No, the Republicans are not the only moral political party in the U.S. as they would like us to believe.

PAULINE LANDIN

Pomona

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Matthew Miller thinks that Bill Clinton’s “persistence” and “tenacity” result in “a legacy unto itself” (Commentary, June 30). Miller mistakes brazen shamelessness for endurance. Clinton will leave a legacy, all right--one that will reflect poorly upon all of us.

JAMES F. GLASS

Chatsworth