VP Candidates: ‘Political Spackle’

* How interesting that both presidential candidates selected running mates who are the equivalent of political Spackle. George W. Bush chose someone to fill in the gaps in his intellect, while Al Gore selected someone to smooth over the holes in his morality. Unfortunately, the choices for president still remain equally poor. And that is the saddest thought of all--that in this country of 270 million-plus people, Bush and Gore are the two best men their respective parties can offer us to choose between. Can that really be true?

MICHAEL WAGMAN

Hidden Hills

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* As a leader of the conservative Democratic Leadership Council, Sen. Joseph Lieberman has spent the prime of his political career neutering the populist, anti-country-club agenda that gives the Democratic Party its legitimacy and distinguishes it from the Republicans. Bill Clinton, Gore, Lieberman and 95% of other elected Democrats are all part of the great selling out of the interests of the working people they nominally claim to represent.

Thus Lieberman is at least an honest choice politically (as, for example, lonely liberal Sen. Tom Harkin or Rep. Richard Gephardt would not have been). The contest now pits far-right Republicans (Bush/Cheney) versus center-right Republicans (Gore/Lieberman). May the best Republican team win!

ERIC C. JACOBSON

Culver City

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* Yes, Gore’s selection of Lieberman as a running mate does show how far the nation has come in accepting all religions. However, in contrast, it also shows that our nation still has a long way to go regarding race and gender. As an African American female who is a registered Democrat, I am dismayed by both major political parties. They both preach inclusion, but neither practices what it preaches.

What saddens me most, however, is the message that is being sent to our children, which is sure to have a negative effect on their self-esteem: “Unless you are a white male, you can forget about ever being vice president or president of the United States.”

Both candidates want our votes, but neither feels that we would bring value to their tickets. Maybe it’s time to start a new party, one that includes everyone, not just in theory but in practice.

SHARMAINE PARKER

Compton

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* So Lieberman is a Jew. So what? The important question is, what are his qualifications for the office he is seeking? The very fact there is so much ink spent on discussing Lieberman’s religious faith shows how prejudiced we still are in this country.

PETE JONKER

Pasadena

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* Gore’s pick of Lieberman brings to the Democratic ticket something that is sorely needed: ethical gravitas. Lieberman will not lose the vice presidency because he is a Jew. He will not be elected because of Gore.

CHRISTOPHER T. HICKS

Long Beach