Gubernatorial Campaign

One of Wilson’s first acts as senator was headlined by The Times “Wilson Captures Spotlight in Gurney Ride to Senate,” the trip he made to vote for the GOP bill that cost senior citizens $6 billion in benefits and shot down other programs geared to the needs of poor and middle-income Americans.

Now, in response to Feinstein’s criticism, he justified his absence from the Senate as an obligation to Californians to explain his campaign rhetoric with the promise that he’d go Washington when it was important to do so. Important? The only problems confronting the Senate were the Reagan deficit, possibility of war, the GOP savings and loan debacle, the Pentagon mess, the HUD rackets, etc.

Finally, shamed by Feinstein, he catches the spotlight again by voting to uphold Bush’s veto of a bill that would restore civil rights to millions of women, to all races--to all Americans. Wilson’s vote to override could have won the day for all.

Well, there’s the Wilson legacy: A gurney ride to reduce benefits for the aged and now a flight to vote to deny millions of Americans their civil rights.

E.Y. WELLS

Woodland Hills