GOP Candidates

Re “Bush, McCain Tussle Over Campaign Reform, Taxes,” Dec. 14: George W. Bush’s presumptuous answer, “Jesus Christ,” to the question, “What political philosopher or thinker do you most identify with and why?” not only reveals his ignorance of the difference between a political philosopher and a religious leader but also alienates and excludes the millions of Americans whose religious affiliations (or non-affiliations) differ from his.

Does he really believe his philosophy is so similar to that of Jesus that everyone should identify the two of them? Do we want a president who answers questions in this way?

ROLLIN P. MAYER

Fullerton

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In the Iowa debate, Bush stated, about John McCain’s plan to reform soft campaign money: “Here’s my worry with your plan. It’s going to hurt the Republican Party.” In these two simple sentences Bush acknowledges that McCain has the courage to put forth a plan he thinks is good for America but might hurt his own party.

At the same time, the Bush statement further emphasizes that Bush is reeking with soft money.

MARK SMITH

Bakersfield

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Perhaps the discomfort caused increasingly, left and right, by the candidacy of Bush can be explained thus: We hear from all sides how in today’s economy only those with the best education and the most up-to-date skills can expect to find employment in anything better than low-paying service jobs. Yet here comes Bush, evidently a washout as a scholar and recipient of rich-kid Cs, self-admittedly a high-living playboy until middle age, deciding he somehow deserves to be president because he’s managed to memorize a single speech. Anyone else with his history would be selling shoes.

If Texans feel they want such an individual as their governor, that’s their business but no reason to inflict him on the rest of us.

KENT SOUTHARD

Dana Point

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Thank you for your chart showing where presidential candidates stand on major issues (Dec. 14). I was disappointed to see how many candidates support increasing military spending again. In 2000, the U.S. will spend $289 billion on the military; that budget is more than twice as much as six of our enemies combined. The biggest spender of all is Russia, and its annual military budget is only $64 billion.

Meanwhile, our education system is faltering and our schools are crumbling. When are candidates going to stop waging war on some imaginary enemy and start taking care of real people with real needs?

DANIELLE BABINEAU

Los Angeles

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Your chart was very revealing. Two issues are not on it: the separation of church and state and women’s rights. In Roe vs. Wade we all gained privacy rights and women gained the right to not be dictated to by people like Gary Bauer and Alan Keyes, who want to go back to control of women. Orrin Hatch, Bush and McCain are lying--they have the same stealth agenda, which is to use religion once elected. Even Hitler did not use Jesus Christ as they do to gain their power ambitions.

RALPH A. REISFELD

La Jolla