Rich Candidates

Libraries are awash with books detailing the growth of campaign spending since the time of President Jackson. George Washington faced insults common to today’s tabloids. Semiliterates are aware of the demise of our two great parties. But Sherry Bebitch Jeffe (Opinion, Feb. 15) says that California’s deep-pocket, mudslinging races owe their nature to Michael Huffington’s near purchase of the last election. This is like blaming our rains on political hot air.

BOB RAND

Newport Beach

* The public believes that people who have made money and who choose to run for office are empty suits who are trying to buy their way into office. However, the reality is quite different. We need to applaud people like Darrell Issa, who come from poor families and through hard work earn their money. Hufffngton spent $30 million of his father’s money. Issa earned every penny of his.

BOB PAMPLIN

West Covina

* Jeffe could have made her essay much shorter by focusing on how Huffington’s legacy was to eliminate any populist element from California statewide elections. Look at the field of candidates for governor for the two major parties. Two-thirds are multimillionaires. None of them can be expected to run on issues like, say, campaign finance reform or health care.

The sad thing is that it does not have to be that way. Sen. Paul Wellstone won two terms in Minnesota running on these very issues, twice running shoestring campaigns against a well-financed opponent.

STEVE VARALYAY

Torrance

* I find it amazing that political pundits have the time to look for hidden meanings in everything. Cathleen Decker’s Feb. 17 article regarding political ads was laughable. While she may have had a point with misleading advertisements regarding Tom Bordonaro, Issa’s ads clearly are not meant to deceive. They obviously poke fun at all politicians. Perhaps Issa’s next TV advertisement should address the tendency of political reporters to over-analyze even the most innocent action to death.

BRENT BARKSDALE

Thousand Oaks