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Editor:  

Here’s another viewpoint on Barbara Lee’s vote against use of force. It did not require much, if any, political courage. The last election she carried the district by about 80 percent of the votes cast for representative in her district in Alameda County. She could lose 25 points from that total, and still win reelection easily. Secondly, the vote was not a close party line vote in which she defied the discipline of party whips. Lastly, she probably calculated that public response would turn out much as it has, with even those who disagreed with her conclusion on the issue praising her independence. The unfortunate result has been to shift the focus of local debate to herself from the more important question of mobilizing to respond to the outrages in New York and Washington, and preventing future attacks. If Al Gore occupied the White House, he would have asked Congress to approve the identical, or a very similar, measure. Would Barbara Lee have embarrassed a Democratic president by voting against the resolution?  

John McDougall  

Berkeley