Bates on NOW and Paula Jones

Karen Grigsby Bates’ April 27 commentary, “NOW, Paula Jones and Miss Anne,” leaves out some extremely important reasons why the National Organization for Women chose not to support Paula Jones’ case. Many lawyers have said that Jones doesn’t have much of a case, and the judge in the case found that it wasn’t strong enough to be heard by a jury and dismissed the entire case. Two of Jones’ former lawyers dropped her case when she refused to settle.

Although I am an African American woman, I don’t think race needs to be brought into this decision by NOW. I agree with the decision and believe this case doesn’t serve to benefit all American women. It is serving to embarrass the president and the country.

The Jones case seems to be supported by people who hate President Clinton and his wife. Why should NOW become involved in this partisan battle? Please, let’s leave black/white out of this sad and serious situation.

MARTHA H. KING

Los Angeles

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Kudos to Bates for blowing the lid off feminism. Given the chance, women are just as elitist as men, and I applaud black “womanists” for rejecting the kind of hypocrisy that has become so fashionable in the ‘90s. Even a Neanderthal brute like myself was on NOW’s side when it supported Anita Hill in 1991, but I’ve had trouble following NOW’s logic in recent matters concerning the president.

I thought it was a partisan thing, but Bates has enlightened me. Apparently, it’s a snob thing, too.

ARNO KEKS

El Monte