Davis Subverted Republican Primary

How can The Times blithely condone Gov. Gray Davis’ shameless, cynical subversion of the Republican gubernatorial primary (“Simon’s Turnabout,” editorial, March 6)? Davis spent a reported $10 million on sleazy attack advertising against Richard Riordan. The only purpose was to smear him for changing his position on abortion and other issues that have nothing to do with the responsibilities of the governor. In effect, you’re critiquing Riordan for not being sufficiently sneaky and sleazy when you should be condemning Davis’ actions as completely unethical and immoral.

As a lifelong Democrat, I am ashamed. When the governor of California can directly subvert another party’s primary, then the time for election reform is overdue. If I, as a Democrat, am not allowed to vote in a Republican primary, then I sure as hell should not be allowed to buy the outcome!

Davis needs to be voted out of office. We can live with weak and ineffectual leaders but should not tolerate anyone so malicious, cynical and contemptuous of the electoral process.

Richard Puz

Los Angeles

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Who besides me was so utterly appalled in reading “Davis’ Brash Tactician Grabs National Notice” (March 6), about the governor’s attack dog Garry South? Even worse was the admiration that greeted his obnoxious strategy on behalf of his boss, the perpetual promotion machine.

The last Republican I voted for was Earl Warren, so I am not about to endorse the antediluvian policies of Bill Simon. And neither can I support the gutless policies of the present state administration, so I guess I’ll sit this next one out.

Phil Hillman

Los Angeles

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The Republican nomination of Simon for governor is better understood when you realize that if you send a Democrat to run against a Democrat, you end up with a Democrat, and that was the problem in the first place.

Bill Ellis

Culver City