The vote-getters

RE “Hush-Hush Truths of Geopolitics,” [review of “Our Brand Is Crisis”] by Kenneth Turan, April 14: James Carville and his ilk are my opposites. I am on the right, they are “progressives.” They believe in hardball politics, doing whatever it takes to win. I would like to see politics waged more honestly, stating positions on issues and letting voters decide.

Reading about smear and focus groups, it is easy to feel contempt for these Americans. But if candidates had no dirty laundry, there would be nothing to smear. If focus groups help candidates find the language to get through to voters, maybe that’s a good thing. In the end, these hardball operatives are competing for votes, not stocking bullets for a coup. As long as politics tries to persuade, rather than tyrannize, it is acceptable to me.

MIKE BURNS

Bakersfield