PAST DRUG USE IRRELEVANT IN SENATE CAMPAIGN

To the editor:

I am a 64-year-old conservative, and I likely will support Republican
John Ensign's re-election to the U.S. Senate next year. But the
"news" that his possible opponent, Jack Carter, smoked marijuana in
his youth is totally irrelevant, and should not be an issue of any
sort in the campaign ("Carter admits past drug use led to Navy
discharge," Oct. 15). I am pleased to see that Sen. Ensign seems to
be taking the high road on this matter.

Mr. Carter was about 23 years of age when he was discharged. The
Constitution mandates that U.S. senators be at least 30 years old for
good reason; namely, that youngsters (myself most definitely
included) frequently engage in activities that can most kindly be
described as "brain dead."Anyone who denies that they ever acted
stupidly while in their early 20s is either being dishonest or is a
partial amnesiac. There is no indication that such foolish acts
indicate how a person will behave as they mature.

I sincerely hope that the media will drop this non-issue, and that it
does not find its way into the senatorial campaign.

Robert D. Lebenson

LAS VEGAS