Republicans and Iran Arms Issue

There is nothing inherently wrong with helping the Nicaraguan contras. There is nothing inherently wrong with trying to free American hostages nor with establishing relations with government moderates in strategically located Iran. All debatable, yes, but not inherently wrong.

Smearing, discrediting and destroying your President, the elected leader of the country, is inherently wrong. Blatantly headlining sensitive intelligence information and diplomatic initiatives is inherently wrong. This is not debatable.

The news media, typically, seek sensationalism--at times at any cost. The Democrats, naturally, seek political power--in this instance the White House in 1988, at any cost. These two national powers, the media and the Democrats, also know that discrediting and weakening the President also discredits and weakens the entire country.

The Iranian affair is not a scandal; it is not corruption. It is cut-throat Democratic politics gleefully aided and abetted by a liberal news media. Call the affair Contragate, Iranscam or whatever demeaning name they can think of, the real name of the game is Reagansmear.

HARRY McDONALD

Huntington Beach