Two Views on Jibe at Hillary Clinton

* It was disappointing to read in Ann Conway’s account of a recent Performing Arts Center fund-raiser (“Kendrick-Morr Tribute Has a Down Side,” Oct. 5) that hard times have turned the once-elegant gentleman General William Lyon into a bitter man who resorts to inappropriately humiliating our President and First Lady. Those types of off-color jokes were once reserved for the Orange County Sports Celebrities Annual Roast, Lincoln Club cocktail chatter or the men’s locker room at the Pacific Club--but at a celebration of culture and the arts--NOT!

Kathryn Thompson was right when she noted that “money can’t buy class.” Nor can it buy the courage to do what you believe is right even if it’s unpopular with your friends and business partners. And as we have seen from this account, money certainly can’t buy good judgment.

Let’s hope that a little retrospection will help to bring back the “gentleman” we once knew.

LARRY TENNEY

Santa Ana

* At a recent tribute to outgoing O.C. Performing Arts Center President Thomas Kendrick, many women were outraged at a remark made by William Lyon toward Hillary Clinton and lesbianism. Having set through years of liberals calling Ronald Reagan a homophobic fascist, it’s laughable that liberals are now suddenly incensed at remarks that are in poor taste.

Although remarks like these are regrettable, if Hillary had the perception that she was going to go through this Administration with her “Saint Hillary” label intact, she was mistaken. Hillary was protected during the 1992 Presidential election because she was perceived as a political liability. Now that she is Bill Clinton’s point woman on health care, it’s open season on her as it has always been for all politicians.

I suggest people who are “outraged” when Hillary is made the object of jokes either lighten up or become equally as “outraged” when the derogatory jokes are directed toward Republicans.

THOMAS A. MILLER

Tustin