Show Standard-Examin- OPINION er Will Monday October 10 1994 7 A voters see Kennedy as the personification of fat in the budget? 'SOMERVILLE Mass — “And now" says Sen Edward Kennedy "the baby fox comes in He wants to play duck duck goosey with the bunnies" Twenty Head Start pupils arc sitting at his feel looking interested but confused Who is this big guy in the suit anyway? And why arc seven TV cameramen 'jostling behind them treading on their fingers? "Do you think the baby rabbits should play with the little fox?" says Kennedy in his loud Senate-debat- e voice He is silting in a low chair in an expensive but wrinkled blue suit His bulky figure is ramrod-stif- T from the back brace All in all the scene could not be more improbable unless you had Barney the dinosaur shooting dice in ' the corner "Noooooooo!" yell the children Nobody wants the bunnies to go soft on foxes Good thing the senator did not ask whether Daddy Fox should get the death penalty "Look" Kennedy tells them “WcTc supposed to represent the party of optimism" Well the pundits do say he's out of touch with the younger voter After 32 years in Congress Ted Kennedy is in a with a lough race running Republican businessman According to the polls the problem is not the drinking or the scandals People just aren't sure they want to keep seeing the same old ncck-and-nc- Gail Collins LJ mentions that his mother is 104 at least a dozen times "Long-tercare is a matter of passion to me" he adds “I sec it every day with my mother Who is 104 years old" stuffed into last year's It's all so ’60s Hobble-legge- d suits Kennedy is running around Massachusetts talking about unmet needs and new programs He is perhaps the only member of the US Senate who is not trying to hide the fad that he thinks government is a good thing “The agenda Ted Kennedy took to Washington 32 years ago had a big heart but it didn’t work" says Mitt Romney his opponent Romney’s TV ads arc harsh but in person he is careful not too say anything too mean Voters may not be sure they want to keep Kennedy but about 57 percent tell the pollsters they approve of the job he’s been doing Romney the son of a former Michigan governor is prepared to spend a whole lot of money reminding voters that he is everything their senator is not Pro death penalty Fiscally conservative Thin “One hundred seventy-si- x pounds! Almost he tells a radio reporter cheerfully Romney who has no known vices looks like a guy who has never experienced cither ill health or a bad hair day His problem is that voters may look at his lean figure and think downsizing m Newsday senatorial face into the next millennium “I don't think 62 is loo old do you?" Kennedy asks the senior citizens at a lunch program in a working-class town near Boston "You're still looking good Teddy!" somebody yells This is an affectionate lie In fact some of the seniors wailing for their free hot meal look a lot better than Ted Kennedy does His eyes arc tiny and red his skin mottled his face lumpy and swollen “He wasn’t around all that much for the last six years" says a Boston reporter “Then all of a sudden he was back and he'd changed" One of his opponent's ads shows Kennedy who sufTcrs from a bad back trying slowly and painfully to squeeze himself behind a table The danger is not that voters will look at Kennedy and sec long nights in the barroom The worst scenario is that they will regard him as a walking illustration of fat in the budget “Everybody's looking at the bottom line but sometimes you have to pul some value on relationships" he tells the seniors In a brief speech he manages to propose at least four expensive new initiatives includ ing Medicare coverage of podiatrists’ bills He also Romney is a venture capitalist — one of those guvs who buy companies them and eventually sell them again to somebody else His firm's latest acquisition is a factory m Indiana that makes stenographer's notebooks As soon as the deal was signed all the workers were fired Most of them were rehircd at lower pay with worse health coverage and no company pension plan The ones who weren't invited back including most of the people out on sick leave got no severance A couple of weeks ago a man from Kennedy's ad agency was down in Indiana sniffing around “I don't know Kennedy" said an official from the paperworkers’ union “But I know Romney We’ll be in your ads" This week when Massachusetts viewers are not watching ads about how their old fat senator is soft on crime they can sec a veritable mimscrics of commercials about how Mitt Romney screwed his workers out of their health benefits “He puts profits before people" says Kennedy To be fair the senator has never had to meet a pavroll in his life The new ads have given the Kennedy campaign a huge lift Maybe their man can't get into the swing of the mood But he can remind people what it was about business that made them turn to government in the first place letters to the editor Be proud of Coray’s stance against hypocrisy Editorial on Coray puzzling and disappointing This letter is in response to your editorial of Sept 29 criticizing Bobbie Coray for taking her sign to the steps of the Capitol in Washington Your editorial criticizing Bobbie Coray’s Washington press conference held before the Republican Party rally Sept 27 was at once puzzling and disappointing An editorial page writer is entitled to take a point of view but one has to wonder why this one adopted the hurl feelings of a Republican PR strategist To be fair Bobbie Coray’s press conference was a political media event calculated to make a political point — that Jim Hansen should not sign new pledges before he fulfilled his old ones The Republican rally was likewise a staged media event Both events were political events Both can and should be judged by the merits of the point they were trying to make and the manner in which they tried to make them but to do so fairly one must get the facts straight Bobbie Coray held her press conference on the Capitol steps one hour before the Republican rally Her banner challenging Jim Hansen's abandonment of his pledge to leave Congress after 12 years was removed from the Capitol grounds long before the Republican rally commenced Your allegation that Bobbie Coray "ran through the crowd of Republicans on the Capitol steps with DC if the “Contract with the American People" which Jim Hansen committed to was composed of other than fluff The contract looks good but It would be nice where's the substance? The "Contract" proposes to hire an independent auditing firm to conduct a comprehensive audit of Congress for waste fraud or abuse What's this supposed to accomplish? And isn't this what GAO the Government Accounting Office docs? Will the auditing firm investigate the personal finances of every member of Congress 535 of them? Will it include staff? It sounds more like a witch hunt than a well thought out program designed to improve the efficiency of Congress Of course the "Contract" includes term limits If my recollection of history is correct the Republicans were instrumental in passing an amendment limiting a president to ten years in office a reaction to FDR When Reagan was in the White House it seems to me that our Sen Hatch made the argument that the limitation on the presidency should be repealed to allow the people to elect a president as many times as they wished Now Sen Hatch is in favor of term limitations Why the LDS have to people arc in favor term limitations for another state's representation in other words Utahns want Ted Kennedy out of there Are they (we) as anxious to get rid of Sen Hatch and Rep Hansen? As voters we can toss the rascals out at any time We are all in favor of a balanced budget The real question is whose oxen gets gored? Do we eliminate farm subsidies? I can hear the cry that we are breaking up the family farm But should the American people subsidize a way of life? Or should the family farmer join the system? The “Contract" proposes new tax credits for families adoption and elderly dependent care These taxes have to be made up somewhere — where? All in all the contract appears to be nothing more than election-tim- e rhetoric The Republicans won control of the Senate with the Reagan victory in 1980 what did they do with it? Will they do more this time around? I am proud that Bobbie Coray took a stance against hypocrisy on the Capitol steps The country is watching who we send to Washington DC Let's send someone of whom wc can be proud Karen E Boyle Huntsville se non-LD- arc often policy and actions news too Huge sections of church leaders’ speeches arc e quoted in our papers I am a member of the predominant religion of another state Our denomination has a convention once per year Wc have never received front-pag- e (or even coverage in our state Our convention has not been mentioned on the TV news Klea Klapp you have to take the bad publicity with the good March Eurtado Ogden first-sectio- n) New building innovative and convenient A few weeks ago I had the op- portunity to visit the new Weber County Motor Vehicle Department building I was running late that day and it was the last day of the month to gel my car's registration and taxes renewed As I arrived at the new building anticipated waiting in long lines but I noticed the drive-u- p window lane on the west side of the building Because I was in a hurry I decided to give it a try To my surprise I was in and out in less than five minutes The employee 1 took my information entered it on the computer gave me my renewal sticker and sent me on my way I would like to publicly compliment Weber County Assessor David Haun and his staff for this new and innovative facility I appreciate not spending my time parking and standing in long lines just to pay my taxes I encourage all taxpayers to utilize this convenient facility wc have in Weber County Julie Snowball Ogden Sophomore beginning to see value in curfew My name is Tyler Thomas and I am a sophomore student at Fremont High School I am writing this letter because I’ve recently become more aware of a problem after listening to some of my friends talking about the hours that they stay out at night My parents have always insisted that their kids have a curfew at night Sometimes I argued with them and fell that they were not fair I don't like having to be the first one to go home in my group I know that I have given my parents a lot of grief over this but I always thought that I was right and they were wrong Lately things have been happening that have made me stop and think about this I think I realize now that curfew is just another form of protection that parents put Letter What's take bad publicity with the good This is in response to Klea sinners S Klapp concerning I imagine that you would remember Jim Bakkcr He is a Christian who was caught and exposed in sin Not only did he receive local attention but national notoriety as well I would like to point out to you that while the LDS receive occachurch sional negative write-up- s front-pag- turnaround? It also seems to me that most around their kids like a winter jacket Kids will often do things together after 10 at night that they might not do alone They find ways to get into trouble without meaning to This has probably been going on for years and years but with gang problems as obvious as they arc now law enforcement people sec kids out together late at night and assume that they’re up to no good Too often they're probably right I guess I just wanted to let my parents know that I’m realizing that there is some good to curfew and I think I'll probably allow them to continue to try and set my hours for me for a few more years Tyler Thomas H'n Point Guidelines for political Letters will publish some letters of political oriThe Standard-Examine- r entation based on the following conditions: Contents must be discussions on relevant political issues — no mudslinging No letters with the express intent on maligning an individual candidate will be accepted Information must be factual verifiable not based on rumor or innuendo No letters of endorsement or simple praise of qualifications and worth of candidates will be run Each letter will be judged for publication on its merit Not all letters with political implications will be published it will be the discretion of the editors — no exceptions Guidelines for all letters to the editor published periodically must be followed Letters without telephone numbers for verification will not be considered ‘J’ her counting billboard" is untrue and asserted without even an attempt to confirm the facts with the Coray Campaign You arc within your right to characterize Bobbie Coray's press conference as a “stunt" and the Republican rally as a “nationally touted GOP affair" but fair-mind- reporters on the national level as well as local level have labeled both events quite differently Bobbie Coray took an opportunity to make a serious political point in a and humorous way Jim Hansen broke his pledge to leave Congress after 12 years and he broke his promise never to take a pay raise at the taxpayers' expense Representative Hansen was not protected from criticism for signing yet another pledge because he was surrounded by 300 other politicians at a political rally Your desire for an open exissue is change on the term-lim- it very worthy and Bobbie Coray will welcome any opportunity to do so But your editorial used untrue hyperbole that was far too close to the same language Jim Hansen's PR people used to defend his actions and the factual inaccuracies hurt the credibility of the piece light-heart- ed John Clark campaign manager C'oray for Congress Campaign and houses on mountain no difference all the fuss being made about the letter “J" on the side of the mountain? Have any of you taken a good look at our once bcau-tilmountainside now covered with houses? Come one Mr Glidden the Sierra Club and all of the rest of you protesters take a good look at what is being done to the mountainside "Get real" Kids leave your "J" up there and the rest of the schools put your school letter on the mountain- ul side It just might save a little piece of the mountains from roads being “carved” into them and being covered with even more homes I know some will write in and say there is a difference but to me and I’m sure there arc others who will agree with me that there is no difference Our most precious resource is our children PE Lambert Layton Hansen voted against federalization of schools As legislative assistant to Congressman Jim Hansen I am responding to a recent letter that was critical of Congressman Hansen’s support of education Rep Hansen's vote against the appropriations for Chapter I (a federal program for economically dis- advantaged students) Pell grant and Head Start should not be interpreted as a vote against education This particular appropriations bill which appropriates funding for the departments of Labor Health and Human Services and Education is now the largest of all spending bills and it is traditionally loaded with excessive federal spending Rep Hansen has always been fiscally conservative and does not support the massive new spending Rep Hansen has worked diligently for and supported many of the programs listed in the previous letter For example he introduced legislation to correct the inequitable funding formula used for Chapter ensuring Utah would get its fair share of federal dollars He has consistently supported Head Start believing in efforts to improve our 1 children's chances of academic and social success Additionally Rep Hansen has always been a strong advocate of the state’s right to educate its children He has supported Gov Leavitt in his education initiatives His vote against Goals 2000 was in no way a vote against the governor’s program or school reform It was a vote against the federalization of our public schools This legislation creates three new federal panels with broad oversight For example it creates the National Education Standards and Improvement Council to develop content student performance and opportunity to learn standards Its members arc appointed by politicians and are accountable to no one As the president of the Utah Education Association has encouraged the First Congressional District to study the record I would encourage you to do the same l am confident the majority of citizens would be proud of the representation they have received in Washington Don’t waste vote on Cook elect Enid Waldholz This is a plea to conservative voters to not vote for Merrill Cook for Congress Your vote may not only be wasted it well may be a vote for Karen Shepherd There might be a remote chance that Merrill Cook could be elected but it is very very unlikely What is most likely is that Merrill will cut into the conservative vote just enough that Karen Shepherd with all the money she has from PACs particularly the militant feminist PACs to persuade the uninformed voter that she is indeed an independent-minde- d fiscal conservative Then once again she will go to Washington beholden to the liberal PACs that have paid for her election and even more likely to be a blind supporter of Bill Clinton Enid warned us in her first campaign that Karen was not a conservative and anyone who followed her record in the Utah Senate should have known that she was not But unfortunately the average voter is so busy trying to earn a living that he or she often knows only those things about the candidate that arc on TV But what if Merrill Cook could win the election? Would he be an effective representative? No He would be even more handicapped than Bill Orton Bill at least has the Democratic party to give him some committee assignments and a few conservative Democrats to support him in maintaining whatever conservative convictions he might have Merrill would have absolutely no organized support whatsoever What party could support him in getting any committee assignments to help him defend Utah interests? He has forfeited Republican support by running as an independent in every election that he has entered He has selfishly run as an independent hoping finally in this election to cash in on the name recognition his numerous failed elections have given him Had he genuinely been concerned about conservative causes he would have followed the rules of the game and sought the most conservative of the two major parties in which to run Don't reward him for his petulant rejection of the Republican Party because they did not grant him his every wish Vote for someone who is a true conservative and one who played honestly by the rules of the game: Enid Green Waldholz I Spencer Hill Emeritus Professor of Political Science Salt Lake City STANDARD’S LETTER POLICY enThe Standard-Examincourages participation in the letters to the editor column er Letters must include your name a daytime phone number so we can verify the letter's authenticity The desirable length is 300 words We will either return longer letters or edit them to fit No more than one letter from any individual will be published during a month We do not publish letters soliciting witnesses to accidents or other materials related to potential legal actions Letters of appreciation or announcements will be published based on individual merit address and “Thank you” notices may be published in the classified ad section Consumer complaints will not be published We welcome your letters but we reserve the right to reject letters that may be offensive to the community Send letters to: Letter to the Editor Standard-ExaminPO Box 951 Ogden UT 84402-095- 1 or bring them to the Associate Editor’s office at 455 23rd Street in Ogden weekdays between 8 am and 5 pm We regret that not all letters will be published er For queries on letters 625-420- call 5 This Month We Install Our Installation Offer Rita 1 Ogden Legislative Assistant Arlington I'a Where are the candidates for county attorney? The editorial in Tuesday’s paper was interesting It seems that write-i- n candidates arc springing up everywhere except that is where they arc needed The Weber County Commission now has seven candidates includby ing the last the name of BischolT But where arc the candidates for the Weber County Attorney's Office? This is the highest-pai- d job in Weber County government but the attorneys here arc already so wealthy they won’t even consider it Or they arc so overloaded with patriotic thoughts of public service they just can't bring themselves around to contributing something back into the community There is much talk about how the present county attorney Mark DcCuria guaranteed himself the job with no competition by selling and himself to an backer of the conference center The county attorney is an elected position that is supposed to represent all of the citizens of the county But Mr IX'Caria has proven his Johnny-comc-latc- ly interests arc only in protecting the political majority in the commission He could care less about the regular citizen Ordinances arc being violated all over the county and DeCaria docs nothing about it He just makes sure none of the learn loses any friends DeCaria knows that our representative form of government is being violated at every commission meeting but he docs nothing Why? Because he owes his job to the folks who have prevented any competition for his job Everyone should ask themselves: Are the attorneys in Weber so wealthy they don't need the job or arc they just another part of the corrupt political system that has been in effect for many years? This year vote for people who have not joined the elite power structure and who can afford to be honest with everybody Jack II Simpson Hooper Now the countrys finest custom closets are available in your area No one makes a better product than The Closet factory No one has more precise tooling better materials or stricter standards And now no one has a better Grand Opening offer: Free Installation! 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