The American Spectator

p> CAN’T WE GET ALONG? br> Re: Reader Mail’s Bush Walks the Walk : /p>

What has happened to our country? Why are so many people such as your readers who write lovingly about one candidate and hatefully about another consumed with spite? This has become an election full of vitriol, disrespect and embarrassment. Attacking a candidate’s appearance (What is this about a tan?) or a candidate’s manner of speech (Idea and nuclear?) by either constituency is not worthy of publication. These comments are pure and simple bigotry and the publication by the Spectator only promotes hate and intolerance.

Where is the discussion of issues instead of this inane focus on “Who won the debate?” and the incredible waste of time on the part of the media, the pundits and publications such as The Spectator as to what the audience is wearing at the town hall forum? This voter considers coverage of this nature an insult to our country and its citizens. If we are becoming a nation of bigots, then the United State of America is truly in danger of not remaining united and it will lose its status as a leader among nations. Think about that.

This voter is tired of such foolishness on the part of supposedly intelligent people. We seem to have forgotten why we elect people to represent us in our local and federal governments. Is it not the central duty of our elected officials to govern our country for the good of all the people — all citizens? This voter contends that the good of the country centers around an exceptional public education system, health care for all citizens, adequate wages that can support a family, maintenance of our transportation and commerce systems, stewardship of our natural resources, reduction of our dependence on oil, elimination of our national deficit, income tax reform, electoral reform, national security, a well-equipped armed services trained for peace keeping and defense, and as importantly, a sound foreign policy which promotes peace along with the world-wide elimination of hunger, disease and nuclear threat. These are just a few of the issues which should be front and center on a voter’s mind when he/she goes into the ballot box to elect a public official.

p>Issues such as a woman’s right to choose, right to life, stem cell research, marriage and ANY attempt to legislate morality do not fall into the arena of governance. These are just a few of the special interests that lead our electorate astray and away from the key focus of our elected officials — that of governing for the good of ALL of our citizens. This voter doesn’t care if the candidate is black, white, green, purple, man, woman, homosexual, transsexual, communist, socialist, liberal, conservative, libertarian, Muslim, Jew, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, etc. Come November 2, this citizen will be voting for candidates from the local through national levels whose platforms will best provide governance for the GOOD of all its citizens regardless of their party, race, gender, religious or economic status. br> — Charlotte Erickson-Rempfer br> North Bend, Washington /p> p>