Name Game’s a Fun Sideshow to a Scandal Without a Handle

WASHINGTON — How about “Iranamok”? Or “Contradeceptive?”

How can there be a real scandal without a catchy name?

While Washington goes about the serious business of sorting out who did what and who knew what in the secret sales of U.S. arms to Iran and subsequent channeling of proceeds to the Nicaraguan rebels, others are struggling to come up with a name for the whole affair.

“Iranscam” was the choice Thursday of several hundred listeners who called in their votes to radio station WCLY in Greenbelt, Md., just outside the capital.

“Contrascam,” “Contragate,” “Armsgate” and other such derivatives were suggested by many callers to the station, indicating that imaginations are still fixed on the Watergate scandal that forced Richard M. Nixon out of the White House and the Abscam “sting” operation that sent a senator and several House members to prison.

Other nominations phoned in to the station were “Iranamok” and “Contradeceptive.” Listeners also came up with:

“Contrafiction,” for those who have trouble believing what officials are saying.

“Payatollah” or “Ayatollah-so” to include the Iranian leader’s name.

“Reagan-armics” or “Gipper’s Gap” or even “Bonzo’s Boo-Boo” from those who blame the President.

“Scantra-Claus,” combining “scam” and the contras with a hint of the Christmas season, was the suggestion of WCLY disc jockey Scott Woodside.

Time magazine also volunteered some possibilities this week, such as “Ollie’s Follies” and “Cuckoo, Iran and Ollie,” referring to the involvement of Marine Lt. Col. Oliver L. North, the fired White House national security aide.