Clinton, Jones at Media Dinner

Arianna Huffington (Commentary, April 28), writing about President Clinton’s humorous remarks at the White House Correspondents’ dinner, said, “Political satire at its keenest has always been about speaking truth to power,” implying that Clinton was power speaking to truth (the press). In fact, the press holds great power, which it has misused in its frenzied coverage of the Jones-Lewinsky matter to the exclusion of serious issues of governance “since the Pope went to Cuba,” as Clinton put it. “What have you been writing about since then?” he asked.

JANE W. PRETTYMAN

Santa Barbara

*

In Bill Press’ April 28 commentary about the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner he wrote, “At the Washington Hilton, Paula Jones was as welcome as James Carville in a trailer park.” Does this quip imply that hard-working Americans with moderate to low incomes tend to be conservative Republicans? For years I listened to the left’s harangue about the Republican Party being the “party of the rich.” Evidently the Republican appeal spans all strata of American life; from the highest tower of finance to the lowly trailer park.

WILLIAM A. ANDERSEN

Woodland Hills

*

I’m sorry, but Jones’ attendance at the White House Correspondents’ dinner demonstrates her lack of class and her manipulation by her partisan backers, and continues to confirm the selfishness of her case.

FLO GINSBURG

Santa Monica

*

Clinton is able to retain the loyalty of most of his subjects because he has proven to be human--in the worst sense of the word.

WALTER J. FRISCH

Seal Beach

*

Robert Scheer’s April 28 commentary, “Starr Must Examine the Viagra Threat,” may not be quite as brilliant as Swift’s “A Modest Proposal,” but for our inane times, it’s about as close as it gets. I’m still smiling.

ROGER JAEP

Camarillo

*

Notwithstanding Scheer’s obsession--lobbying for a Carville cloneship in the Clinton administration’s goon squad--liberals’ chronic, mean-spirited attacks on Judge Kenneth Starr are curious. If an experienced prosecutor was in charge of the Office of the Independent Counsel, the lunatic left would have more reason to whine: President Newt Gingrich.

STEVE CLAR

Temple City

*

A few short weeks ago there were several pundits predicting that May 7 was going to spell doomsday for the president. Now it appears Starr is going to send a letter to Congress sometime in late June. Letter? Whatever happened to that scathing report that was going to lay the foundation for impeachment?

I think it’s safe to say that there may be another indictment or two before this entire charade is done--maybe even Hillary. But if Starr indicts the first lady and it’s with something less than a smoking gun, he may as well move to Ronald Reagan’s ranch in Santa Barbara. The Young America’s Foundation can rename the ranch Scaifeland and charge admission to view the smiling “prosecutor without a clue.”

STEPHEN HARVEY

Laguna Niguel

*

Starr is not on trial. He has many reputable citizens who defend his integrity. The recent report that he has spent $40 million in his investigation as an independent counsel makes me wonder if the accountant reporting this sum is the same accountant who tells Carville that Clinton created 10 million jobs. Whoever gives out this information thinks big!

GYNETH GLEASON

Woodland Hills

*

I hope the American people are as outraged as I am about Rep. Dan Burton’s (R-Ind.) reference toward the president of the United States as being “a scumbag” (April 24). Name-calling of that type belongs in a sewer, not in the House of Representatives. An apology or censure is definitely in order.

BEN BRONWEIN

Newhall