Selective political memory

In his Nov. 21 letter, “Watch those words,” Jim Barbieri writes, “A leader is defined by what they say and what they do.” He then proceeds to list quotes, rather than actions, from presidents Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton to prove that they were good presidents.

Barbieri has a very selective memory.

Have we forgotten the Iran-Contra scandal that nearly destroyed the Reagan presidency? That he authorized selling weapons to Iran in order to get hostages held in Lebanon back, then used profits to fund insurgents in Nicaragua, violating an act of Congress? When Reagan entered office, the federal deficit was 2.5 percent of the national economy. When he left office, it was 5 percent, showing that Reagonomics did not work.

Have we forgotten that we were told by the Bush White House that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, that the Iraq war could be done on the cheap, for maybe $21 billion; now we know it cost $800 billion, with that number expected to rise as we take care of wounded veterans?

And even Democrats were disgusted with the Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Actions and words define a presidential legacy.

Kathryn Lee

Spokane