Letters to the Editor

Now for some real money
BY MONTE PAULSEN
(10/23/99)

and

Another Dole bites the dust
BY JAKE TAPPER
(10/20/99)

Monte Paulsen raises some valid concerns about Elizabeth Dole's speaking engagements -- particularly with respect to speeches given to groups which had business pending before the Senate at a time when her husband was still on Capitol Hill. Most of the article, however, is a small-minded and mean-spirited attack on a woman who, whatever you think of her politics, has donated a tremendous amount of her income to charity and has spent most of the '90s heading up one of the nation's foremost charitable organizations. One of Paulsen's main complaints is that Dole promised to contribute all of her income to charity but actually only contributed about half. I dare say that Dole's broken promises reflect far more giving than the pledges that most of us keep.

Paulsen's misguided attack reaches its nadir when he questions Dole's pattern of giving as suspect because she contributes to groups with which she has had a personal association. I find this level of questioning insulting to all of us. Of course people give to their own alma maters, their own churches and the charitable organizations which they personally consider worthy. I applaud Elizabeth Dole's generosity of spirit, and question the author's lack of it.

-- Robert Anderson
Denver

Good piece on Liddy Dole cashing in. However, when the Clintons cash in -- and they surely will -- I hope you also deem it newsworthy.

-- John Darten

While I never would have voted for Elizabeth Dole, I find it a discouraging reflection on American politics that $5 million in raised funds, with $860,000 in cash on hand, is considered not enough money to run a presidential campaign. If money is the be-all and end-all qualification, why don't the Republicans save time and money on state and national conventions by just nominating George W. right now?

-- Susan Maricle
Minneapolis

Class dismissed!
BY DAVID ALFORD
(10/22/99)

What are we to make of Alford's temper tantrum? Are we supposed to think more highly of him and disparage his students, or agree that today's crop of students is less inclined or able to learn from his wisdom? Instead, what we see is a professor who continually abdicates his responsibility and then blames his students. If their reactions in class discussion show they have learned nothing from the class, what does his abrupt and irresponsible cancellation of class and his inability to cope with his students show? A grasp of philosophy? I don't think so.

-- Joanne Huybensz

David Alford's article made me consider my own position here in Salt Lake City. As a native Californian and Taoist living among the faithful in the Mormon Mecca, I have gotten quite used to being referred to as a "Gentile," although the description is rather improbable given my Irish/Episcopal heritage. But I would rather be around Mormons than born-again fundamentalists any day. When debates of any kind reach the boiling point here, the Mormons are the first to suggest that we sweep the unpleasantness under the rug, and settle our differences over a round of Sprite and sherbet floats or a couple of Kit Kats. The fundies, on the other hand, go right for the gun rack.

-- Robert Barth
Salt Lake City

Deleted?
BY ALICIA MONTGOMERY
(10/22/99)

I read the "poison pen e-mail" mentioned in its entirety -- it was absolutely nothing of the kind. Linda Muller was saddened by her position, not angry.

As for Bay letting her go, that was probably an editorial mistake, because the new guys are nowhere near as talented as Linda was -- however, everyone sees art differently. Bay wanted a slick new presentation, so she hired someone else.

Are you people on the attack with Pat Buchanan because you genuinely dislike him, or because you're on the GOP payroll? We find it highly suspicious that liberals and journalists at least tolerated Pat for over15 years, and suddenly decided he's a threat to the American way at the exact moment he became a third-party political threat to a Republican candidate swimming in piles of money.

-- Kevin Tuma

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