August 26, 2001 - Los Angeles Times: Letter to the Editor - the Virtues of Gaddi Vasquez

Peace Corps Online: Peace Corps News: Headlines: Peace Corps Headlines - 2001: 08 August 2001 Peace Corps Headlines: August 26, 2001 - Los Angeles Times: Letter to the Editor - the Virtues of Gaddi Vasquez

By Admin1 (admin) on Sunday, August 26, 2001 - 11:08 am: Edit Post

A Reader Details Virtues of Vasquez
I sometimes disagree with your editorial position on
issues, but never have I seen you miss the mark so
badly as you did with your Aug. 20 editorial opposing
the nomination of former Orange County Supervisor
Gaddi Vasquez as director of the Peace Corps.

My reaction upon hearing of Vasquez's nomination
was that he was the perfect choice for that job.

Vasquez personifies America. Raised by immigrant
farm workers from Mexico, he took advantage of
the great opportunities in this country to get an
education, perfect his public speaking skills, build a
successful career and perform considerable public
service. Yes, he happened to be on the Board of
Supervisors at the time of the bankruptcy, but anyone familiar with that event
knows that the board could not have foreseen or prevented it. An elected county
treasurer single-handedly brought the county to its knees, not Vasquez or the
Board of Supervisors.

Contrary to your editorial, Vasquez showed great courage and leadership in the
wake of the bankruptcy, taking a lot of unwarranted abuse and staying on the
board until a solution was in place.

Before the bankruptcy, Vasquez exercised leadership on the board in the areas
of law enforcement and assistance for child victims. .

Vasquez will make a great Peace Corps director. His idealism and charismatic
personality will make America proud to have him representing us around the
world.

Randy Smith

Yorba Linda


Read the full letter here:

http://www.latimes.com/editions/orange/la-000069199aug26.story

By John N Smart (jnsmart) on Sunday, August 26, 2001 - 12:43 pm: Edit Post

I tried to get into the LA Times website to write my opinion of this letter, but couldn't figure out how to do it. Talk about confusing instructions!
Anyway, this Randy Smith is clearly a Republican die-hard for whom any candidate for this job would be terrific as long as he or she had the requisite political capital...money!
To say that Vasquez is not qualified to head the Peace Corps is a serious understatement, and all the favors that he's done for the Republican Party do not change that. Throw the bum out!


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