THE PUBLIC MIND: BILL CLINTON SHOWS HIS LIBERAL STRIPES

Dear Editor:

Republicans can take heart ... President-elect Clinton, that avowed Democratic centralist - the phrase is almost an oxymoron, I realize - is already showing his liberal stripes.

First, Clinton panders to the gay lobby - which gave $3 million to his campaign - by reiterating his vow to lift the military's ban on homosexuality, despite the fact the military's top leaders are opposed. All you retired generals and admirals who endorsed Clinton -- didn't you know what you were getting? (The worst thing about this is that for the next four years we are going to have to watch those gay activists smirking on TV about what a powerful force they have become suddenly.)

Secondly, he panders to his ultra liberal supporters by vowing to lift President Bush's ban on the Haitian boat people. Already we have more than a million Haitians living in this country, 400,000 of them in New York City alone. Anyone want to take odds on how many are living on welfare? "Economic opportunity" - that's a nice euphemism for easy welfare, which is why so many immigrants flock to the liberal Northeast where the rules are loose, taxes high and unemployment rolls heavy.

And the man's not even sworn in yet. I hope the GOP is taking notes. Four years of this, the notebooks ought to be bulging.

Bill Zellmer

Cape Girardeau