Bush, Gore Should Show Leadership

I am ashamed for Gov. George W. Bush and the Republican Party. Their legal maneuvers to steal the election represent an outrageous assault on American democracy. How can the governor who signed into Texas law legislation to give hand recounts priority over electronic counts now engage in this hypocrisy?

Do Republican members of Congress realize the backlash this will create for their party two years from now? Does Bush realize what he’s doing to the mind-sets of America’s youth in increasing their cynicism about democracy and the rights of the electorate?

NORMAN R. NAGER

Communications Prof., Emeritus

Cal State Fullerton

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We had a nationwide election Nov. 7 and it showed that Bush barely won, but won. Florida followed up the election with a recount that was required by law and that recount showed Bush had won. Al Gore has to concede this election now, for the good of this nation and not for the good of just one man.

This administration has taught our children that there is no penalty for a crime, what oral sex is and to question what the definition of “is” is. Now Gore is starting by teaching our children that if you don’t like the results of a test, request recount after recount until you get the answer you want. This must stop.

MICHAEL FELKINS

Oceanside

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Though the media have been quick to declare winners, they have been slow to cover important issues. It is a myth that Bush somehow “won” the election. This appearance was a collective error on the part of the media. Tom Rosenstiel’s Nov. 15 commentary reveals that the Bush family was behind this error, pointing out that a cousin of the Texas governor, who works for Fox News Channel, was the person who sparked the confusion by declaring George W. the winner.

With respect to African American voters in Tallahassee, why has such little coverage been given to the allegations of racial discrimination in the presidential election? Is it just coincidence that the most severe voter irregularities occurred in the state governed by Bush’s brother? It will be a sad day in the history of this country if the presidency is determined by the media and a few key people in a candidate’s family, rather than the “will of the people.”

DAVID ARMENDARIZ

Garden Grove

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Gore is putting himself and his campaign before the nation and its people as a whole. Is this the kind of man that we want to run this country? He has lost Florida and the election. It’s time that he becomes a man and says to the nation, “I accept defeat in this election.” We must be able to move on and get some dignity back into the institution of the White House and the office of the presidency.

CHRIS R. HAIGHT

Tehachapi

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This politically divided nation needs a leader to take the moral high ground. But instead, each side continues to rally the party faithful with spiteful rhetoric that demeans the opponent. At this time, Al and Dubya should choose their words more carefully, to win the hearts and not just the votes of the other half of America that they hope to lead.

R.J. MARTEL

Laguna Niguel

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The political turmoil that is now going on in our country is a demonstration of democracy at its best and that democracy works. To gain political power in this country, we settle things with the ballot and not bullets. There are few countries in the world that do the same and have reached our stage of civilization. This truly is a demonstration of democracy at its best.

DAVID HERTZ

Tarzana

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All the litigation in Florida has been an embarrassment to our two-party system. Gore, instead of looking to blame “fuzzy” ballots, should blame all the 95,000 Florida voters who voted for Ralph Nader. After all, it was those Nader voters who felt so disenfranchised and ignored by the major parties that they voted Green--what were they thinking! Instead of looking for a legal remedy, the Democratic Party should take a long look in the mirror.

JULIO HERNANDEZ

Los Angeles