ELECTIONS '08

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Let the games begin

Now that Sen. Barack Obama's attackers have spilled all the venom they can think of by bringing up old issues that he has already dealt with, what are they going to do when the real political contest begins? Sen. John McCain has yet to answer to the American electorate for any of his religious pandering and lobbyist associations, let alone his strong position on supporting the war and the so-called surge. Let the games begin.

— Steve Binder, Oxnard

Why Democrats are to blame

Re: Rodney K. Boswell's May 7 letter, "Can't blame the Democrats":

Boswell questions why President Bush blames the Democrats for our current economic woes. He intimates that it was due to the Republicans' "flexing our muscles abroad" in 2001, not when the Democrats took control of Congress in 2006.

It began in the late 1980s. Congressional Democrats have continually blocked domestic fossil-fuel and nuclear-power development, whether they controlled Congress or not. Both Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama voted against such domestic energy development.

More recently, Democrats touted global warming caused by carbon dioxide emissions — an issue in doubt — as the reason not to develop domestic fossil fuels. Unfortunately, adequate supplies of renewable energy are not available to support the economy as required.

We need fossil-fuel and nuclear-power development now. Our country runs on energy, lots of it. Our economic woes are caused by having to buy foreign oil rather than developing our own. Corn ethanol is an environmental loser. It adds carbon dioxide and diverts corn from food — think high food costs and shortages.

Democrats are greatly responsible for high energy (gas) and food costs. Their inaction has a major negative impact on our economy.

— Allan Byrne, Agoura Hills

Who is John McCain?

Re: Diana Thorn's May 8 letter, "Who is Barack Obama?":

Sen. Obama addressed the issue of his relationship with his former minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, in his March 18 Philadelphia speech and again with finality April 29.

Sen. John McCain continues to get a "pass" in the mainstream media about his spiritual advisers and religious supporters. McCain solicited and proudly accepted endorsements from several extremely controversial religious leaders. Video clips of their statements are on YouTube. These include the Rev. John Hagee's statement, "New Orleans deserved Katrina because they were going to have a gay pride parade." Hagee has made defamatory statements about Islam, called the Catholic Church "the great whore" and denigrated women.

During a March 4 Republican primary rally in Ohio, the Rev. Rod Parsley by his side, McCain called the evangelical minister a "spiritual guide." Unfortunately, Parsley has written of Islam, "The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed."

In 2000, McCain called the Revs. Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell "agents of intolerance," based on their vitriolic views, such as Falwell's blaming the 9/11 attacks on "pagans, abortionists, feminists, gays, lesbians, the ACLU," etc. In 2006, McCain evidently decided that wasn't such a despicable statement and delivered a graduation speech at Falwell's Liberty University.

To paraphrase Thorn: It is clear McCain has associated with angry, dangerous and questionable people. Does McCain have the judgment, honesty, character, dependability and open-mindedness to be our next president? I don't think so.

Thorn might want to delve a little deeper into Obama's legislative record and the esteem he has earned from fellow congressional representatives and other respected leaders. Again, I echo Thorn's statement: It is imperative Americans get to know the candidates — all the candidates.

— Joy Putinta, Camarillo

Fearing Obama

I am extremely concerned about the patriotism of the American people and our politicians who have jumped on the Barack Hussein Obama bandwagon. The people who are willing to overlook his association with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright evidently have never heard the old "birds of a feather" adage.

Is anyone concerned about what changes Obama has in store for us? So far, I have heard higher taxes and socialized medicine, which can mean it would take people up to a year to have surgery. As far as the war, it will probably be the same, as we cannot pull out of Iraq and leave those people sitting ducks for Iran. Remember Nancy Pelosi and "Scary Harry" Reid's diatribe on how they were going to stop the war? A bunch of nuts fell for that.

Then we have Michelle Obama. The woman has a chip on her shoulder. I find her extremely arrogant and racist and someone I would not care to have in the White House.

At least Sen. John McCain can be objective to all races. And his wife's contributions have been nothing but positive and generous.

The American people need to stop listening to movie stars and political ads with agendas of their own and start researching what actually is going on and what is good for America. If they don't, they might just one of these days wake up and find themselves dressed in a burqua.

— Judith Patton, Moorpark