Two Views on Khachigian

* Columnist Kenneth L. Khachigian writes on Nov. 7 that voters would like to know if Warren Beatty “takes advantage of tax shelters.”

It would be easy for Beatty to keep his mouth shut and take advantage of every tax shelter. Why shouldn’t he?

Beatty has chosen to speak out against a tax system from which he benefits greatly; that’s admirable.

Evidently, Khachigian finds Beatty’s ability to recognize the essentially unfair nature of our tax and health care systems remarkable. I presume Khachigian finds anyone not motivated by greed a little suspect.

Khachigian would likely prefer a candidate who mouths platitudes to get votes from the poor while serving the interests of the rich, the way most Republicans do.

JIM CORBETT

San Clemente

* Kenneth L. Khachigian effectively points out the philosophical differences between Republicans and Democrats in his column urging the candidacy of “ultraliberal” Warren Beatty as the Democratic presidential nominee.

If a committed liberal like Beatty were to obtain the nomination, the Republican candidate would enjoy the same advantage Richard Nixon had in his 1972 race against George McGovern.

McGovern was able to carry only a single state--Massachusetts--by unabashedly proclaiming his dedication to “big government” spending programs at the federal level as the solution to the nation’s ills.

More recent Democratic successes, including the elections of Bill Clinton in 1992 and 1996 and Gray Davis in 1998, can be attributed largely to their success in “co-opting” traditional Republican issues, such as a balanced budget, Social Security reform and “three strikes” laws.

The defeats of President George Bush, Bob Dole and Dan Lungren in large measure can be attributed to their failure to maintain consistently conservative positions on such issues as tax reductions and the initiatives against illegal immigration and for “English only.”

The GOP has the best chance of regaining control in Sacramento and the White House if Republican candidates will take credit for and refuse to compromise on traditional Republican core values: lower taxes, greater local control and high ethical standards for public officials.

At the same time, Republicans would be well advised to address and offer constructive proposals for reform as to those issues which have been the historic focus of the Democratic agenda: health care, the environment, campaign finance reform and workplace equity.

BILL CROSBY

Santa Ana