EDITORIAL TAKING OFFENSE MAYOR HAHN HAS NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.

POOR James Hahn.

The mayor is ``offended'' that reasonable observers drew the obvious conclusion about his dishing out payola to three African-American churches to try to silence opposition over his decision not to support another term for Police Chief Bernard C. Parks.

``Quite frankly I'm offended that these kind of remarks would be made about me,'' Hahn complained last week. ``Anyone who thinks you can hush up (the church's ministers) for a few pieces of silver doesn't know them very well.''

Clearly, two of the three ministers were not hushed up.

It goes to show that Hahn underestimated the ethics and integrity of some of his closest friends and political allies. For all the years he capitalized on his father's support among African-American leaders, he never actually knew them ``very well.''

If anyone should feel offended, it's the people of Los Angeles for the mayor's breaking all the rules and practices on city grants by handing out giant mock checks promising $25,000 in unsolicited grant money.

We, for one, are offended that the mayor would take taxpayer funds and distribute them not on the basis of need, but in a crude attempt to garner political favor.

We're offended that he would run roughshod over all established grant- giving procedures and assume that public funds are his to distribute at his pleasure.

We're offended at the sight of our city's highest elected official abusing the public trust.

It's hard to believe anyone feels sorry for the mayor's friend-buying scheme blowing up in his face. It gives the public a keener insight into how Los Angeles government really works.

Instead of being ``offended,'' the mayor should have tried to be ``contrite.'' That would have gone over a lot better with everyone.