Lungren on Character

George Skelton (Capitol Journal, Feb. 5) says Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren does not believe a politician can compartmentalize his life between public and private character. Maybe not. But I am more concerned about a politician’s public character that affects my life than his private character that does not, and I do not like Lungren’s public character, including his positions respecting a woman’s right to choose, gun control and, until recently, his support of tobacco interests, from which he received a lot of money until it became a hot-button issue.

While attorneys general around the country were filing actions against the tobacco industry, Lungren sat on his hands complaining he was not authorized to act. But he did not lift a finger to obtain authority as other attorneys general did! Texas has just settled for more than $15 billion; California, whose damages are substantially higher, has nothing.

GEORGE MAGIT

Northridge

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Lungren’s comment, “All I can tell you is that if I had thought anybody was taking advantage of my sister, my wife or my daughter at their age, the last thing that person would have had to worry about was impeachment or losing their job.” So, his taking the law into his own hands shows character, nonviolence, virtue? This is not my interpretation of spiritual values, for which even Lungren states “there is a tremendous yearning.”

CAROLYN LOFRANO

Woodland Hills