Pinkerton on Morality

Re “Pendulum of Morality Is Swinging Back,” Column Right, Feb. 12: The variability of human nature and morality are of minor proportions; James Pinkerton’s emphasis is misdirected.

In this explosive information environment with the worldwide proliferation of uncontrolled cyberspace activity, nothing seems to be off-limits. The various media have taken the cue, and with little compunction delve into President Clinton’s sexual intimacies.

The tabloidization of news and the accompanying flow of salacious material are far too great. The private peccadilloes of public officials should be off-limits, or this media frenzy will never end! President Clinton is not the only one in the present, past, or future to engage in illicit intimacy of a consensual nature.

Surely, this whole episode will only discourage some potential candidates from running for public office.

BERT WINTHROP

Los Angeles

* I don’t believe Pinkerton’s naivete for suggesting that “politicians . . . admit their sexual indiscretions upfront, so that hanky-pankying will be ‘old news’ when the whistle is blown.” Would Pinkerton’s list include the occasions when lawmakers spent time in the bathroom with their Penthouse magazine? I have come to believe that the scandalized, sexually repressed right is just jealous of the activities of the more liberated. Their religion makes it difficult for them to enjoy sex and they don’t want the rest of us to have any enjoyment either.

That’s probably the reason for Bill Clinton’s strength at the polls.

J.L. MICHAEL

Los Angeles