LETTER: Yeakel Debate

To the Editor: Unfortunately, the article failed to note a number of important facts. First, as stated by Yeakel herself at the press conference, Klein had been assisting the Yeakel campaign for some months in preparing Yeakel's economic program. It seems that the economic program Klein endorsed was not Yeakel's, but his own. Further evidence of this was Yeakel's inability to answer questions from reporters about her economic program. Yeakel simply directed difficult questions to Klein. Finally, the DP quoted Scott Sher, president of the College Democrats, as commenting on the importance of the endorsement. Sher spoke of the reputed "conservativism" of Wharton School economists in buttressing his case that the endorsement was especially significant. Obviously, Sher is unaware that Klein served as an economic advisor to Jimmy Carter -- hardly your typical conservative -- during his 1976 campaign for the Presidency. As an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania, I recognize that the DP is a powerful voice in the University community and in much of West Philadelphia. It is therefore important for its readers to be apprised of all the facts relevant to stories it runs. MICHAEL BLUME College '89 Citizens for Arlen Specter