Gore’s Focus on Family Issues

Re “ ‘I’ll Stand Up for You,’ Gore Pledges,” Aug. 18: As an independent voter, I was very impressed with Al Gore’s acceptance speech and his specific policy positions and leadership on the important issues for the American people. There is nothing “stiff” about Gore’s proposals to help pay for prescription drugs for the elderly, raise the minimum wage for working families and help college students pay for their tuition. I do not understand why the media have not critiqued George W. Bush’s “stiff” positions regarding his support for Jefferson Davis’ Confederate flag, tax cuts for the rich and anti-environmental platform.

I am glad to see a reinvigorated Gore campaign and hope the people look past petty personality traits and look to who can best lead our country.

STEVE RECCHIA

Irvine

* Al promised something to every faction of the Democratic Party, most promises getting loud and long applause. Interestingly enough, though not surprising, the one thing he said that I agreed with, the need for more parental responsibility, got the least response.

Most of what he “would fight for” (he actually proposed initiating little) means more Washington regulations and spending, but he failed to address how the supposed surpluses could be preserved with all the new expenditures. He talked of expanding the rights of all working families but also spoke of “targeted tax cuts,” which move those financially successful families out of the bull’s-eye. If you like big government and continued class warfare, you should love big Al.

MEL WOLF

Burbank

* Al Gore’s poking gentle fun at his own “unexciting” image in his acceptance speech makes the point that an effective president’s job isn’t to keep us awake but, rather, to allow us to sleep a little better at night. He makes it abundantly clear that no amount of Bush’s oxymoronic “compassionate conservatism” will manage to decaffeinate the Republican platform and the GOP’s plans for America.

AVIE HERN

Los Angeles

* Gee, what a coincidence! The independent counsel revealss another Monica Lewinsky investigation, on the very day that Gore gives his acceptance speech. This may not be a “vast right-wing conspiracy,” but it’s at least half-vast.

DAN SCHECHTER

Los Alamitos

* Isn’t it ironic that the party that advocates big government programs to solve every problem we have also reveres JFK and his most famous quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

JAMES PAYTON

Indian Wells

* As a Republican I have always held Sen. Joseph Lieberman in the highest regard for his honestly held views on school vouchers, privatizing Social Security, affirmative action, etc.--all contrary to his party views. I am embarrassed to see him now reject those principles. This makes him an ordinary politician. I will not be surprised if he next starts praising Hollywood for its marvelous moral leadership. (Before November elections, of course.)

CHARLES HILTON

Newport Beach

* It was not just the mostly youthful “protest pit” participants who were made to feel like outsiders at the Democratic National Convention. Five of my high school students from South-Central and East Los Angeles had the opportunity to attend the convention on Wednesday night. While it’s true my students might have an extra earring or tattoo, all five were selected because of their deep political fervency. However, all five were embarrassingly rousted from their seats during the middle of the convention, taken outside and interrogated. Their offense? They didn’t seem to fit the profile. Is it any wonder our youth feel completely disenfranchised from the system?

Eventually, my students were allowed back in. Their seats had been taken, they had to split up and the security continued to watch them like a hawk, which caused their fellow convention attendees to begin casting wary eyes their way. After 20 minutes of this, my students finally got up and left.

NOEL TROUT

Los Angeles