Campaign tactics leave this 70-year-old disillusioned

I'm 70 years old, part of the generation that followed "The Greatest Generation" and preceded the "Baby Boomer Generation." I've witnessed many an election. I've basked in the joy of enthusiastic and energetic election participation and lamented the lack of enthusiasm and participation in other elections. But the past two elections have found me more disillusioned than ever.

One recent morning I stopped to relocate a political sign that had been placed directly in front of the opponent's sign. It was put there in order to shield from view the opponent's message. What little mind could not realize that that very act says something about the integrity of the candidate the perpetrator supports?

Here in my neighborhood, I've watched with dismay at the theft of yard signs. On public property, there is the endless removing of the other guy's sign, replaced with the one the thief favors. Then comes the retaliation: the thief's sign comes down and a new one goes up, ad infinitum, until no signs are left. In past elections people respected another's opinion and both signs would have stood side by side without the childish and destructive removal process.

Even personal property is not exempt. Many signs in my neighbor's yards -- signs installed by them on their own property -- have been stolen. How very sad, and how very un-American. These incidences are bad enough, but I believe they reflect a larger problem within society in general. Under the stewardship of the "Greatest Generation," we held to a standard that recognized each other's strengths regardless of the differences of opinion.

Now, even within our own government, from the very top down, there is name calling, belittling and absurd lies directed toward the opponent. How can that not affect our national psyche?

JOHN BROBST
Bradford Woods

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Stop, thief

Two nights ago someone with too much free time trespassed on my property and stole my "Lynn Swann for Governor" campaign sign.

Apparently this has happened to quite a few citizens over the past few days. I am not pointing any specific fingers, but at least in my neighborhood only the Republican candidate signs were pilfered.

Query to any Democratic fence-sitters: Is this a legitimate practice in the debate of who will lead, or a denial of the free speech guaranteed by the Founders of this great Republic?

MARGARET WATSON
Mt. Lebanon

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Your blame game

In response to "Altmire for Congress" (Oct. 25 endorsement editorial): How "surprised" I was to see your paper endorse another Democrat. And the reason you choose the opponent of Melissa Hart? Because she follows President Bush's lead and he is "out of new ideas." A booming economy, terrorist-free cities, border tightening, lower taxes don't count, I guess. The editorial does praise Rep. Hart because she doesn't have a "contemptuous sneer" like Rick Santorum. Should we vote for the other guy because he opposes all of Bush's ideas -- and doesn't smirk, either?

I am weary from listening to your newspaper's "new ideas" that only appear to blame George Bush or his party for everything that doesn't happen the way you think it should. Your editorials continue to support a party that has no plan for the future and no clue about the past. It is very easy, after the fact, to just sit on the sidelines and say things should have been done differently. Thank God (can I say that in your paper?) you weren't writing editorials during World War II, you probably would have endorsed pulling out of Europe, and I don't know how to goose-step.

I am, by the way, a registered Democrat and senior citizen.

PAUL BAUER
Brentwood

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Vulakovich plays fair

The Post-Gazette has endorsed Shawn Flaherty for the 30th District ("Keep Flaherty," Oct. 24). To give credit to Mr. Flaherty's opponent, Randy Vulakovich, I would remind readers that long ago Randy stated in this newspaper that he would not run a dirty or name-calling campaign.

Mr. Flaherty has no such scruples, as shown with the TV commercial that begins with the words "Democrat -- Republican" followed by a picture of Mr. Vulakovich and the single word, "SNEAK."

I think many people, not only in the 30th District but throughout the county, know Mr. Vulakovich and know he is not a sneak. They will be deeply offended. I think much less of Mr. Flaherty.

JOAN KETTERER
Ross

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I oppose abortion

I read with great dismay the Post-Gazette's misrepresentation of my position on abortion in two recent issues ("GOP Drafts Ogden to Challenge Petrone," Oct. 19; and "Double Zero: In the House, Two Painful Non-endorsements," Oct. 17 editorial).

Let me be perfectly clear: I am, and have always been, opposed to abortion. Throughout my tenure in the General Assembly, I have supported efforts to restrict abortion within the parameters set forth in Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that established a woman's right to have an abortion. This includes voting for the 1989 law signed by Gov. Robert P. Casey, which contained the most restrictive state abortion provisions in the nation.

Should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade, I would support efforts to provide legal protection for unborn children from the moment of conception, with the exceptions of instances of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in danger.

I am proud of my record on abortion and the whole range of issues that promote the dignity and value of human life from conception to natural death. My record on these issues has led the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation to endorse my candidacy this year as well as in all of my previous elections.

If the editorial board members were confused about my position on abortion, they should have sought a clarification from me prior to going to print. Failure to do so was a disservice to your readers and reflects poorly on your newspaper.

STATE REP. THOMAS C. PETRONE
West End

Rep. Petrone is a Democrat from the 27th District

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Two points

I've just read Margaret Carlson's Oct. 22 column, "Pa. Senate Race Reflects U.S. Mood" (Sunday Perspectives). While I agree with her on a lot of things, she put forward two popular misconceptions that need to be refuted.

First: That "[i]n 1992, Democrats wouldn't allow Mr. Casey's father to speak ... at their convention because he was anti-abortion." Not true! Bob Casey Sr. was prevented from speaking because -- get this -- he wouldn't endorse the Clinton/Gore ticket! As eyewitness Paul Begala noted, "Nobody gets to speak at any convention unless they support the candidate for president." (Duh!) And many other "pro-life" Democrats did get to speak there -- including Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, John Breaux (former senator from Louisiana), Howell Heflin (the late senator from Alabama) and five governors. And pro-lifers from Mr. Breaux to Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada have appeared at every Democratic convention since.

Second: That Democrats are (or were) "more interested in protecting abortion, amnesty and acid than the working and middle classes." In fact, the working and middle classes have always been top priority for Democrats; it's the Republicans who keep forcing those "nether issues" to the fore! Abortion: Not only Democrats but two-thirds of Americans oppose reinstating what I call "Reproductive Prohibition." Amnesty: A one-time thing for people whose only crime was to not fight in a war that they -- as ultimately most Americans -- opposed. (Thank God there's no divisive draft this time around.) Acid: The Democratic Party has never supported legalizing LSD.

Otherwise, it was a great column.

ROBERT ALAN GUSTAFSON II
Butler

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Wilkinsburg's historians say: John Wilkins Jr. is the borough's name man

The Oct. 22 historical essay "Pittsburgh's Last Duel" (published on "The Next Page") mentioned the 19th-century lawyer and politician William Wilkins, adding "for whom Wilkinsburg is named." While this assertion has been debated in history circles, the Wilkinsburg Historical Society has concluded that the borough was in fact named for William Wilkins' older brother, Gen. John Wilkins Jr. The society's forthcoming book "Images of America: Wilkinsburg" (Arcadia Publishing) states unequivocally that John Wilkins Jr. is our municipality's namesake.

You could also say that a primary source is engraved, if not in stone, in brass. In 1916, the Pittsburgh Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution placed a plaque at Wilkinsburg High School. "In honor of John Wilkins, captain in the Continental Army, and of his son, John Wilkins Jr., a soldier in the Revolution, Quartermaster General, U.S. Army 1796," it reads, "and for whom Wilkinsburg is named." The plaque also honors William Wilkins and his many achievements (U.S. senator, minister to Russia and secretary of war under President John Tyler, among others). In 1976, the plaque was moved to the Wilkinsburg Municipal Building, where it hangs today.

JAMES B. RICHARD
Wilkinsburg

The writer is coordinator of "Images of America: Wilkinsburg" and past president of the Wilkinsburg Historical Society.