Loose lips that sink politicians

Re “Epidemic of foot-in-mouth afflicts candidates this year,” Nov. 2

I was very disappointed that your article compares the “foot-in-mouth” comments of Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) to those of Sen. George Allen (R-Va.). Kerry’s comments were clearly meant to disparage the wisdom of Bush’s policies; Allen’s were clearly meant to insult a black man. It seems that Allen’s comments qualify as foot-in-mouth and Kerry’s don’t. Kerry’s comments would have qualified as foot-in-mouth if he were doing what President Bush and his team of political thugs wanted people to believe he was doing: insulting our troops. But Bush and his team knew what Kerry meant.

Clearly it is Bush and his fellow chicken hawks who have enthusiastically put their collective feet in their mouths to again smear a war hero. Your article plays right into their demagogic hands.

RICHARD S. MARKEN

Los Angeles

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Re “Kerry’s fighting words give way to apology,” Nov. 2

We’ve heard Kerry’s apology, but how do we know what he actually meant. Did you verify his intent? For all we know, he may have unburdened himself of a comment on the president’s policy toward North Korea. No? Which reminds me, if you have any intention of publishing my letters, better check with me first. I may have meant something totally different than what you think I wrote.

Everybody’s dictionary these days seems to be different from everybody else’s.

ALFRED LORONA

Whittier

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At least Kerry’s feeble apology will knock him out of the 2008 presidential race. His apology is the problem -- he had nothing to apologize for in the first place. He should have continued the argument he started: It is economically underprivileged kids who can’t afford college who often end up joining the military. It is the poor kids who fight our wars, and that was a point that needed to be made.

Rich kids with connections, like a young George W. Bush, avoid combat service or get safe postings during times of a military draft. Kerry’s retreat from this important point illustrates why he should not be president.

JEFF SOFTLEY

Los Angeles

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Kerry finally apologized for his foot-in-mouth lapse. But where are the apologies from the other side?

Where are the apologies from Vice President Dick Cheney for his “the insurgency is in its last throes” statement? Where is the apology from Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for her fear-mongering “mushroom clouds” over American cities statement? Where is the apology from former CIA Director George J. Tenet for saying “it’s a slam dunk”? And where is the apology from Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld for the juvenile response “stuff happens”? Did he mean nearly 3,000 American deaths?

It seems to me we should connect the dots and expect some more apologies.

SAMUEL SENSIPER

Goleta