Thursday, October 1, 1998

The Smoking Party

As a former smoker, I was pleased with the American Cancer Society's rebuttal to the tobacco lobby's "Don't tax poor smokers because we love them so damn much" advertising blitz.

This ad campaign was a cynical attempt to convince smokers that tobacco companies were truly concerned about their welfare when their lobbyists convinced Republican corporate lackies in Congress to kill the tobacco bill that would have raised taxes on cigarettes. This ludicrous proposition came from an industry that peddles a product that will eventually kill all of its customers.

Republicans' cavalier attitude toward nicotine addiction is curious considering their stated opposition to other forms of drug abuse and their Puritan stance against other vices like gambling. Also, the Republican right-to-life platform is laughably contradictory to the support of an industry that causes the deaths of thousands of Americans every year.

The reason for this discrepancy is money. Republicans receive millions from the tobacco lobby. So the GOP is happy to let people commit suicide by cigarette, as long as the big tobacco money train continues to offload at the Gingrich station.

Apparently pious right-wing politicians have the annoying habit of pontificating about Christian ethics and family values.

This doesn't impress me because I know that the Republicans' formation of public policy has more to do with their allegiance to the Holy Greenback than their devotion to any Supreme Being.

RICKY JANNISE

Abilene

Pleased with media

There is so much flak given to the news media these days that we would like to relate just the opposite in the coverage of our situation.

We are the parents and grandparents of Cari Lin (Gifford) Harrison and her sons Michael and Jonathan. It was a tremendously emotional day when the person responsible for taking their lives was sentenced at the Coleman County Courthouse.

Following the sentencing, we were approached by several members of the news media but were treated in a very compassionate and respectful manner. The sensitive way in which they conducted their interviews was greatly appreciated by our entire family.

With our emotional state following the sentencing, we might have been asked questions that could have inaccurately represented what was meant. We said a few things that would have been answered differently had we been in a better state of mind, but overall the interviews went well.

We would especially like to thank KTXS-TV's Heather Kelly for the broadcast on that station, which was tasteful and compassionate. We would also like to extend our appreciation to Anthony Wilson of the Abilene Reporter-News and Billie Mercer of the Coleman Chronicle and Democrat-Voice.

Although not the outcome we would have preferred, some justice has been served, and through the grace of God and the power of time, we can go forward now and take our healing one day at a time.

Again, thank you to the news media for a job well done.

BARBARA AND KEN GIFFORD

Coleman

It's the law

Without law we have nothing. Law is not law unless it is enforced. Thousands of people have died upholding the law.

Law is bigger than Bill Clinton. Law is bigger than Ken Starr.

Law is bigger than the Democratic party. Law is bigger than the Republican party.

Law is bigger than two cars in every garage and a chicken in every pot.

R.B.H. CLARK

Cisco

A moral example

I don't know how many congressmen have reflected the true nature of their constituency in the House of Representatives as well as has Charles Stenholm, but whoever they are, their districts are as fortunate as we.

You want a strong moral example in Washington? You have one. You are hot for term limits? It is a nice idea, but one which does not meet the realities of the present time. We in the 17th District still need the advantage of experience and the quality of contacts and connection made by the honest man who served us well.

Vote for Charles Stenholm in November.

DON WRIGHT

Abilene

Help for migraine

I am writing in response to J.D. Comer's Sept. 22 letter about Excedrin Migraine versus Extra Strength Excedrin.

I have been a migraine sufferer for as long as I can remember. For more than 20 years I have been on an expensive prescription migraine medicine. I have tried many different medicines, prescription and otherwise, but always go back to the same medicine. I averaged three to four migraines per week, sometimes more.

One night while watching TV I saw the Excedrin Migraine commercial and decided to try it.

My daughter called my attention to the fact that Extra Strength Excedrin and Excedrin Migraine had the same ingredients. She called the toll-free number and asked why. She was told many people are unaware that Extra Strength Excedrin could help migraines, so it was recommended that the manufacturers package it differently so as to make people aware that it could help some migraine sufferers. They admitted the ingredients were the same.

I could care less about two bottles with the same ingredients packaged differently. All I know is that I thank the Lord every day for that commercial. I have been taking Excedrin since April, and I feel like a new person.

I strongly encourage other migraine sufferers to try Extra Strength Excedrin or Excedrin Migraine.

GERALDINE TERRY

Abilene

Poise and dignity

President Clinton has handled the business of this country with poise and dignity despite the constant bashing from the Republicans from the day he took office and from Ken Starr, who has been allowed to dig into every private corner of the president's life for four years.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the president has made a terrible mistake. He has admitted it. He has apologized numerous times, but that is not enough for the Republicans and Ken Starr.

They have assaulted our intelligence by doubting we know what a sexual relationship is - so we have this garbage dumped on the Internet and in the media to explain in graphic detail just what it means. That one horrendous act by the Republican Judiciary Committee, before they even read a word of it, did more to harm the youth and our nation both here and abroad than anything that has or will come out of this affair.

Enough already! We need to put all of this hurt, embarrassment and ugliness behind us, accept the president's apology and let him get on with the business of running this country. He is capable of doing it, and I for one trust him to do it. He is paying a price for his mistake and deserves it, but I believe he can bring this nation back to where we belong.

He is the only one with the guts and know-how to get the job done, and he still has the support of most of the important foreign countries. I forgive him, and my prayers are with him.

KAY PHILLIPS GREGORY

Westbrook

Blow to democracy

In spite of the Republican witch hunt that has been going on ever since he took office, Bill Clinton has done a good job and continued to receive high approval ratings from the people who elected him, a fact which infuriates the Republicans.

His conduct, however reprehensible, has not hurt his ability to govern. What has hurt him is the ongoing Republican witch hunt. Now that they are closing in on him, they are turning their attention to Janet Reno because she is the only one who stands between them and Al Gore, which makes their primary objective more obvious.

They have embarrassed this country, insulted the office of the presidency and destroyed Clinton's personal life just to promote their own political agenda. If they succeed, Newt Gingrich, who is certainly no more perfect than Clinton, will be president.

If Starr and his backers are allowed to get away with deposing an elected president and replacing him with a man of their own choosing, it will not only upset the balance of power, it will amount to a bloodless coup in which the elected officials are thrown out and replaced by the opposing party.

This would not only be a blow to democracy, it would also set an exceedingly bad precedent for future presidents - of either party.

SHARON NORMAN

Abilene

In defense of Bill

Just a few words in defense of our president. Sure, he did something that was sinful and sickening, but if God and his wife and daughter can forgive him, that is all that matters.

What's the charge? Anything to get Bill Clinton. If it's perjury, Newt Gingrich committed perjury, paid a heavy fine and it was all over. Monica committed perjury, but her charge was dropped after she agreed to testify under oath again, exactly reversing her first testimony. Clinton committed perjury and they want to impeach him. That just doesn't make sense!

Sexual misconduct? Some of our former presidents had mistresses. Kennedy's escapades were an open book. Eisenhower's affair was excusable because it was in war times.

Clinton has been called a draft-dodger because, like myself and many others, he did not include the military in his life plans. He did show his loyalty to his country by demonstrating against the Vietnam War.

Most all Americans opposed that war, but many just criticized President Johnson for not ending it sooner.

Campaign promises are goals to be reached if they are not blocked. If President Bush failed to keep his promise, it just couldn't be helped, but if Clinton couldn't fulfill his promise, he was called a liar.

He has been called a coward, yet he is the first president to have the courage to stand up to the tobacco companies.

C.T. JACKSON

Anson

Morality declining

The morality of the American people has deteriorated in the last 50 years. specifically since the days of President Nixon.

Mr. Nixon lied under oath. Consequently, the public and our legislators forced him to resign. Since that time our legislators (almost all lawyers) have changed or "modified" our judicial system to the point that lying under oath is common and insignificant.

The acts of our president in recent months are prime examples of moral decay. One reason for the moral decay is the removal of the Bible from the courtroom.

Not only is it sad that our country is being led by an immoral leader, it is sad that the history books will record this example of moral decay for future generations of students to read and study.

Are the acts of the president a reflection of the morality of America?

If the polls according to the news media are correct, more than half the people in America believe the acts of the president are permissible. This is more proof of the accelerating immorality.

Another prime example of moral decay is the fact that Hollywood has been portraying adultery as the American way of life for more than 50 years. Consequently, more than half the people believe it is all right to commit adultery.

Slick Willie's definition of some of the words we use and his definition of Christian family values are certainly different from mine.

M.C. CRANFILL

Abilene