1 In reference to your Oct. 9 page-one article 'Barbara Bush Earns Even Higher Ratings Than the President,' it is regrettable that you must continually define blacks by our negatives: 'Among liberals, 60% have positive views of her, while 50% approve of the president's job performance.
2 In part, this may reflect the fact that `she speaks a more progressive language' than her husband, as Columbia's Prof. {Ethel} Klein puts it.
3 Among professionals, 76% have a favorable opinion of her, compared to 62% who approve of her husband's performance.
4 While a quarter of black voters disapprove of Mr. Bush's handling of his job, only 15% have a negative view of his spouse.'
5 The statistics imply that three-quarters of blacks approve of Mr. Bush's job performance and 85% of blacks approve of Mrs. Bush.
6 If the assumption is that it is surprising that so few blacks find Mr. and Mrs. Bush distasteful, the positive view is even more newsworthy.
7 Such an editorial point of view perpetuates an insidious, stereotyped perspective.
8 Why are we blacks continually defined by our minority and the lowest common denominator.
9 Preston G. Foster
10 Birmingham, Ala.

In part , this may reflect the fact that ` she speaks a more progressive language ' than her husband , as Columbia ' s Prof . { Ethel } Klein puts it .
progressive
How does Barbara Bush have more progressive language than her husband?