Far too often, I see some poster or another on the Pantagraph Web site trying to compare Clinton's misbehaviors to that of Bush.

Many from the right, it seems, want to equate, conflate and inflate facts in order to advance their line of argument and confuse the issues.

They like to say, "You liberals cannot call Bush a liar. Look at this." So, they point at the sex scandal. It does not really work, though.

Bill Clinton was an adult engaged in activities related to his own body and affecting his own reputation. He was a grown-up. It was his own business.

Bush, sadly, has acted in ways that drag me, you and all Americans into his misdeeds. He has squandered our assets. He has trashed our reputations and credibility around the world.

Bush treats all Americans like children. He thinks we are too dumb to know our own good, too dumb to understand, unable to think clearly.

Worse, he has done nearly everything possible to keep us from stopping him.

I am well educated and an adult. I can make a distinction between these two patterns with no trouble at all.

Michael Schumann

Bloomington