Clinton’s Character

I got as far as “. . . a boyhood friend of Clinton’s half brother Roger testified . . .” (March 24) in the most recent “Clinton disputes” story and quit. Frankly, I don’t have the luxury anymore of waiting for a pure political leader. I am surprised that anyone believes we have such a luxury when the evidence around us shows time is desperately running out for the United States.

That is not to say that Clinton isn’t a troublesome choice. He’s not as liberal as I’d like, he’s too smooth by half and he is said to be a Lyndon Johnson reincarnation. With all his faults, Johnson was always credited with being a brilliant political operator--the Slick Lyndon of his day.

Now after 12 years of cynical, cavalier economic and racial disintegration under the Republican regime, I don’t care. I’ll take Clinton’s back-room deals and flaws over the dead Marines in Beirut, the S&L; crisis, the futile Gulf War, the fantasy-driven CIA/Iran/Contra maneuvering, removal of women’s choice, crumbling inner cities and legitimate insecurities over our ability to compete in the new world order. The choice is clear: a Slick Willie or a Baffled Bush.

SYDNEY WEISMAN

Los Angeles