Disbarment for Clinton

Re “Presidents Are Neither Above nor Below the Law,” Commentary, May 25: Evidently, Alan Dershowitz has forgotten that President Clinton was found in contempt of court by Judge Susan Webber Wright for intentionally making statements to deceive and obstruct the court. He has also evidently forgotten that the president was impeached on two counts (involving lying and obstruction) by the Congress. He was soundly denounced by members of his own party for lying under oath and to the American people. Is this the kind of lawyer Dershowitz wants to keep in the bar?

Dershowitz needs to take a step back from stretching the law, and he will see why the vast majority have no respect for it or those who practice it. It has become pure sophistry and has nothing to do with the truth.

STUART PENNINGTON

Chino Hills

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Oh, please. Dershowitz must be awfully fatigued from carrying all that water for President Clinton. The only person more adept at this kind of brilliant spin is James Carville. And Carville does it without such a tortured and twisted application of intellectual, legal and ethical logic.

I love Alan. But, intentionally or unintentionally, misguided rationalization is an effective tool of the mentally gifted and is often used to support flawed positions. Taken to the extreme, this is one reason why evil dictatorships still exist around the world.

DONALD A. SELLEK

Manhattan Beach

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In response to Thomas R. Damiani’s concerns about “character and legacy,” letter, May 25: Who do you suppose will earn the scorn of history, President Clinton or Clinton haters? As it becomes increasingly clear that Clinton has given the country eight years of the most effective leadership in its history, how will the constant harassment of powerful political enemies be measured? When fair-minded historians evaluate the legacy of President Clinton, the Lewinsky affair will certainly recede into the background, and what will emerge is the record of achievements by a great leader. Clinton haters will take their place in the footnotes of history among citations of those who spewed their venom on Washington, Lincoln, Wilson and Roosevelt.

As for the Arkansas disbarment proceeding, it will certainly rank among the worst acts of Clinton haters. If you trace the history of Clinton-hating in Arkansas, you will find its source among the Faubus racists.

DON BROWN

West Hills