Letters to the editor for Friday, Aug. 1

John McCain's new ad asks us to associate Sen. Barack Obama with Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. That's pretty mean. But at least it wasn't George Bush and Dick Cheney. McCain has dibs on them.

ROD CHRISTENSEN, NORTHFIELD, MINN.

The sidebar to the July 30 article "An Alaskan icon indicted" was hardly balanced by listing only senators -- three Republicans and only one Democrat -- who have been indicted. Only one of the Republicans, Larry Craig, listed a current charge; the other two Republicans faced charges 15 years ago. The lone Democrat listed was charged 28 years ago, giving the impression that Democrats rarely are indicted on charges.

Not so fast! What about including House members, such as Louisiana Democrat Rep. William Jefferson? He's been indicted and currently faces trial on corruption charges for wire fraud, money laundering, soliciting bribes for more than $500,000 and accepting bribes for $100,000 and racketeering.

BARBARA MCCARTHY, Eden Prairie

After reading the July 30 article about broadening the definition of abortion, I was outraged and frustrated. Anyone who has the foggiest idea of how reproduction and birth control work understands that Plan B is simply a high dose of birth control, which prevents pregnancy.

Preventing pregnancy, especially in cases of rape and incest, prevents abortion. It's a simple cause and effect. Less birth control means more unwanted pregnancies, and more unwanted pregnancies means more abortions. Get with it, people.

Regarding the July 27 article "Latest word on the breast self exam: You can skip it," I recently examined my breasts and discovered a lump in the right one. The lump had been detected by neither a recent doctor's exam nor by a mammogram. A biopsy determined the growth to be cancerous, and a mastectomy was performed. Had I not found the growth, it could have been nearly a year before detection was made. The cancer would have been more serious by that time.

All women should examine their breasts regularly. They will become thoroughly familiar with the characteristics of a normal breast and be more sensitive to developing abnormalities. Self-examination does work. Your life may depend on it.

ELIZABETH KITTILSON, GOLDEN VALLEY

I think the president and CEO of the American Bankers Association and author of the July 31 letter "Credit card reforms / Hurts good customers" was wrong when he compared the credit card industry to auto insurance. Safer drivers do not get the better rates. In Minnesota, rates are based on a driver's history, type of vehicle insured, and, mainly, credit rating. Can someone tell me what your credit rating has to do with your vehicle insurance?

JOYCE WOBBROCK,

Dominic Jones is paying his debt to society in part by public speeches ("'My name now is Inmate,'" July 29). He says that he made a mistake. His coach says that he made a bad decision.

But Dominic needs to learn how to say, "I did it. It was wrong. I did it deliberately. It was immoral and illegal. I'm sorry, and I'm to blame. Don't do that kind of thing."

Calling misconduct a mistake or a bad decision somehow makes it seem like it's not his fault.

GORDON C. KRANTZ, RICHFIELD

He's no messiah Perhaps the most telling and frightening line in the article about Dominic Jones' journey from star University of Minnesota athlete to workhouse inmate was his own observation that he was the messiah of the team.