So I will receive up to $800 in tax cuts if Barack Obama is elected. Is that the price of my soul these days? Is that worth giving up my morals? Is that worth 3,000 babies being killed each and every day? Is that worth my children and grandchildren not inheriting a free country with the greatest Constitution on Earth? I don’t think so.
No amount of tax cuts will make up for the extreme plans Obama has for my country and its Constitution. Everything he proposes just stinks! Each and every person needs to vote this year to ensure this unqualified, inexperienced, no morals man does not get elected.
Please vote for John McCain. Voting is a right and a privilege, not an inconvenience. Vote early, vote McCain. Ensure that future generations will have the chance to live in the same, great nation that we live in today.
Vote for McCain. No amount of temporary cash in your pocket is worth the demise of this great nation. Please vote John McCain.
Susan Eby
Holly Springs
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As I watch this election unfold, I have become more and more concerned about the future of my small business.
My small business is one that depends on overseas products because the items I sell are not available here in the U.S., and the maze of rules and regulations that I must adhere to are at times overwhelming. I try very hard to keep up with the many regulations and costs involved and can barely hold on. To think that there will be more taxes and regulations forced on my small business is frightening. I am sure that small businesses across the U.S. are already stretched to the point that many of us are now holding on by the skin of our teeth.
Those of you who have a government-backed job just do not understand what small business owners have to deal with, and to think that an Obama victory will bring more requirements such as required health insurance for all employees or new taxes would certainly be the end of many small businesses like mine.
I have read and heard the media bash “Joe the Plumber,” and in reality he is very similar to many of us who have a dream and want to stand on our own and be fair to all our employees. I feel strongly that our politicians have deserted the small business owners and continue to give large corporations and government pet projects more backing without addressing the needs of small business owners. Our elected officials continue to spend more on giveaway programs, and I am sure now that these type give-away projects are a big factor in our current financial crisis.
I for one want lower taxes and fewer regulations and requirements. Our system is broken and needs to be fixed by lowering taxes, and our politicians just do not get it. We cannot continue to run our country as a welfare state if we want to continue to have the lifestyle we deserve. Spreading the wealth sounds good to those who want something for nothing, and our elected officials are to blame for this.
I am scared for my family and my employees. It is time to stand up against more government and more boondoggle spending before it is too late.
Perry Harris
Smithfield
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The tone of the McCain/Palin campaign and of many of their supporters at their rallies has become dangerous. Civil discourse has been left aside in favor of attempting to instill a fear of their opponent by tapping into latent racism and fear of terrorism.
Using indirect and at times very direct messages, they are perpetuating and fueling a dangerous fire and emboldening those who may otherwise be inhibited from action with their tacit approval. And the effect will last well after the campaign is over.
An angry extremist’s attempt to prematurely end an Obama presidency would be catastrophic on a human level, a political level and an economic level. And the McCain/Palin campaign would be culpable.
Taking advantage of, and perpetuating, these most destructive of human emotions to further their own political gains is simply inexcusable. It diminishes us all.
Michael Stella
Durham
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John McCain frightens me. He is stuck in the past, unable to overcome his lost-war complex. If he were elected president, his romantically patriotic notion of a victory with honor might motivate him to fight and prolong wars that are not in humanity’s best interest. I don’t think he is emotionally detached and rational enough to discern the point where ending a war short of victory becomes the prudent thing to do.
Another scary trait of McCain’s is his boasting about and glorification of service and sacrifice. When using the phrase “paying the ultimate sacrifice,” he appears awestruck. We don’t need another president who demands of our soldiers the willingness to kill and be killed for a questionable cause and whose certainties about himself and our country may do even greater damage.
The wars of the 20th century are over. NATO lost its function. Its extension toward the East is a folly. So is the installation of a missile defense shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. The changed geopolitical situation requires a statesman in the White House who will lead the world in establishing a new order that includes Russia and China. How else can the world become safer?
Bill Grothmann
Cary
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As Charlotte’s Mayor Pro Tem, many people have asked me who I support for governor. My answer is clear: Bev Perdue. In fact, the majority of the Charlotte City Council supports Perdue for governor.
I know both candidates personally. I served with Charlotte Mayor McCrory on the City Council for seven years, and I’ve seen first-hand Bev’s work as lieutenant governor.
Bev is the leader we need during these difficult times. Unlike Pat McCrory, she understands that to do that we must bring our entire state together, all 100 counties, rather than pitting regions or groups against each other.
The difference is clear here in Charlotte: Pat vetoed a budget that would have added 70 more police on the streets. He opposed a program to revitalize a troubled neighborhood and reduce crime. Perdue, on the other hand, personally visited those communities to learn about their concerns.
Charlotte’s form of government, like other North Carolina cities, gives the mayor no power. McCrory has never written a budget nor does he vote on council actions except in very limited cases. He has absolutely no experience in human services such as education, health care or mental health. In these most challenging times, we cannot risk a governor who needs on-the-job training.
As governor, Bev Perdue has the experience and temperament to give all North Carolinians a seat at the table. Only she can move our entire state forward.
Susan Burgess
Mayor Pro Tem
Charlotte
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Why is Robin Hayes adding to the hate speech of this election, calling liberals “people who hate America”? Call me a liberal. I usually vote Democratic and believe in giving a helping hand to the less fortunate, rather than a boot in the face to hold them down. I volunteer with struggling schoolchildren, build homes with Habitat for Humanity and work with our local Literacy Council to teach adults to read. I have worked hard, raised my children to be productive tax-paying citizens, and I go to church regularly. For this I hate America? How am I so threatening to Robin Hayes?
Is it that I am tired of people who make big bucks getting all the tax breaks? That I think it is wrong to give more tax breaks to U.S. corporations that take our jobs out of our country? I have lost two jobs to NAFTA. I support tax breaks for companies that add jobs here.
Robin Hayes was born into one of the wealthiest families in North Carolina. He doesn’t know what it’s like to live in fear of losing your job and medical coverage, through no fault of your own, knowing there are few equivalent jobs available. He has no idea of the struggles many families face every month to pay for basic necessities.
He should be ashamed to say that I hate America and people who do well. I simply want to keep more of my paycheck and to get America back on track, to be the best it can for its citizens and be respected by other countries again.
Hayes doesn’t deserve to represent North Carolina if he thinks his divisive speech is appropriate. Talk about stupid!
Susan Whitledge
Newport
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A few thoughts about the presidential election:
John McCain is experienced, has high integrity, has served our country as a U.S. Navy pilot, is a Vietnam War POW and has extensive foreign affairs and defense expertise. He is the true change agent in this election, is the best hope to cut the wild federal spending and is known for working with both Democrats and Republicans.
In contrast, Barack Obama has no executive experience, was indecisive as an Illinois state senator, voting “present” on many issues, is rated as the most liberal U.S. senator, rarely challenges his political party and has stated one of his primary goals is to “spread the wealth” by taking more money from some hard-working Americans and then send federal checks to those who pay no federal income tax — a new form of welfare.
Obama’s belief system has been influenced by such radicals as Jeremiah Wright, who as Obama’s pastor for 20 years preached hate for America and whites; William Ayers, who is an unrepentant American terrorist whose organization bombed Americans and American facilities; and let’s not forget Tony Rekzo, a friend of Obama’s who is a convicted felon. Obama has a connection to our current financial mess. He is one of the largest benefactors of political contributions from the failed Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, now bailed out with billions of tax dollars.
Obama’s own running mate has stated Obama is not ready to be president!
Who would best serve America? Seems like a “no-brainer.”
Joe McDermond
New Bern
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One cannot underestimate the confidence that North Carolinians had in Elizabeth Dole six years ago in her run against Erskine Bowles. She is known as a classy and respectable woman, but I have lost that regard for her in the past week. Not only has she loaned her campaign $3 million, but six years ago she harshly criticized Erskine Bowles for a similar loan, claiming that she did not possess that kind of personal wealth. She accused Bowles of using this money to fund his negative attack ads, though she has plenty of personal experience with these as the former head of the NRSC.
The more she speaks, the less I trust her, which is probably why she consistently stays out of North Carolina politics even while claiming to represent us. We all know that a closed mouth gathers no foot, but that is not the kind of representation we need, and that is one of the many reasons that I am supporting Kay Hagan for our next U.S. senator.
Elizabeth Ragan
Raleigh
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I found the Oct. 25 Sunday Forum page very interesting, but there is one thing everyone seems to miss. A middle class plumber asks Sen. Barack Obama a question that he does not have a scripted answer to. The next thing that happens is the Democratic Party, news media and union attack this individual as though he were an enemy spy. They look into his background and try to discredit him. In short they make his life miserable.
I have two questions: Are not the Democrats supposedly champions of these people? How comfortable does it make you feel voting for someone who condones this activity?
George Toth
Raleigh
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Pat McCrory stated in his debate with Bev Perdue that he doesn’t support 25-year retirement for law enforcement. Bev Perdue has in the past and still does support 25-year retirement for law enforcement.
Pat McCrory went on to state that the law enforcement organizations that endorsed Bev are labor organizers. McCrory is trying to mislead the voters with scare tactics and comparing cops to Jimmy Hoffa Mafia type leadership.
While I am a member of the N.C. Sheriff Police Alliance, we are not affiliated with any union. As Bev Perdue has stated on more than one occasion, “These are the men and women putting their lives on the line for our safety every day, and it’s insulting to attack them!”
Law enforcers have endorsed Bev Perdue because we know that she’s the best candidate to be tough and smart on crime, and to ensure that our officers have the tools we need to keep our communities and our children safe.
Pat McCrory needs to support N.C. law enforcement the way he supported his own pay raise!
Rickey Padgett
Bahama
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Our political discourse is currently being pounded by repeated claims of the evils of “socialism.” As far as I can tell, this is based on the notion that we should never have public policy or infrastructure that redistributes wealth, as it is supposedly “anti-American.”
Those beating the drum apparently don’t really understand America. We already depend on such institutions for the health and wealth of Americans, every day.
Health insurance is a system we each pay into — hoping never to use the money we pay — so those unfortunate enough to require medical help can use our money.
Our income tax system has always asked more of those most able to pay, so that essential services from education to roads to a strong military benefit all Americans.
We each pay employment insurance taxes that enable folks to feed their families after an unexpected layoff; we each certainly hope we personally never need to use such funds.
Each generation (hopefully better off than the last) pays into the Social Security system so our parents and grandparents are less likely to live out the end of their lives in poverty.
Americans everywhere benefit from the institutions that some among us seem to suddenly despise because they “share the wealth.”
I am proud that we value the quality of life of every American citizen. Not just the wealthy, or the fortunate, or the well-connected. Not just the healthy. Not just those who have a job. Not just those who can keep their homes.
We value every one of us. That’s a core value of the America I love.
Tom Cole
Cary
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Barack Obama brags about his years as a community organizer and advocate for better schools.
It looks like this endeavor failed. Chicago still has the second-highest high school drop out rate at 52 percent after Detroit and the highest U.S. murder rate under a Democratic administration. Sounds like Chicago needs someone like Rudy Giuliani.
After failing as a local state senator (50 percent present votes!) he did what a lot of politicians do when they cannot make it in the real world: He ran for the U.S. Senate and after two years of this he decided he was ready to become president.
Is this a great country or what? Goes to show that anyone with absolutely no qualifications or experience in national, military or foreign policies might get elected president.
Albert F. Rodrick
Havelock
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Rumor has it that Sarah Palin loves playing “Redneck Woman” at her campaign rallies. Now, this is a good thing. However, Sarah can never be more than a pretender because she was born in Alaska.
As a pure-bred Bertie County, Eastern North Carolina redneck, I have a question: How many times a week does Sarah eat the best food in the world — namely, barbecue made from Parkers in Wilson?
Also, how many times has her neck been truly red from priming tobacco, picking cotton, hunting ducks and harvesting peanuts, soybeans and corn? Doesn’t Sarah feel more at home sliding around ice than splashing in the no-man’s land of the Dismal Swamp?
More alarmingly, she seems to worship bears more than pigs. It is probably a confusion of distance. I admit she deserves a few points for eating wild meat and sitting on a bear sofa cover with the bear’s head still attached to it at the governor’s mansion.
Bless her heart, there is so much attractive about her and if her running buddy for president were a little younger, I might consider voting for her. Imagine her actually being in the crowd who holds all the power in Washington and New York, especially those wealthy Republican bluebloods, who have been running the country for the past eight years, with all their pedigree blood lines, Ivy League educations, country club ways, right-wing think tank views about the world and unshakable belief in their natural superiority.
Have mercy on this good woman and spare her the four years of having to deal, up close and personal, with such arrogance!
Earl Bell
Pine Knoll Shores
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Thankfully, Nov. 4 is finally in sight (and with that the end of a deluge of TV commercials.) This is the most important election in my life, and I need to speak.
My support for Barack Obama solidified when I read Caroline Kennedy’s endorsement in The New York Times: “I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.”
Though I was only six at the time, I remember the excitement around President Kennedy’s election, the optimism and accomplishment of his administration and the horrifying results of gunfire in Texas. I remember how the country came together in the toughest of times.
Then, I began to volunteer here in Johnston County. Early on I learned the campaign’s motto “Respect, Empower, Include.” The campaign has managed to do just that: A 15-year-old Smithfield-Selma student intern, proud to offer her time, youth and energy. A 40-something former academic and athletic standout at South Johnston High and current soldier on leave from Iraq volunteers. A retired Kenly man with access to a van has driven round and round the county delivering signs and taking elderly and handicapped voters to vote early. A multitude of retirees have given their time to call and canvass and greet. For many, like me, the spark of passion has reignited.
Organization may be the real shining star of this campaign. There is a chain of command, and everyone has his or her task in focus. No one’s job is more important — there is one task only, to make change happen. Only through teamwork can we succeed.
Huge rallies have run like clockwork, offices have sprung up quickly and successfully all over our state, and communication is premium. We are all on the same page — a page for the history books. With Barack Obama it is obvious that we have a leader people willingly follow. They have a stake in his vision!
Teresa McLamb Blackmon
Benson
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I am a life-long Republican and business owner who has resided in North Carolina for the past 15 years. I do not expect nor demand much from those who choose to represent me in the House of Representatives or the Senate. Perhaps had I paid closer attention to these matters, I wouldn’t have lost most of my retirement account in the last two weeks.
I, like many others, have been forced to watch helplessly as those who sought the public trust violated that trust. The facts are simple: Elizabeth Dole moved back to North Carolina with the intent of seeking election to the U.S. Senate. Personally, I found it more than a little disconcerting that a person with so little in common with the average North Carolinian would assume she could effectively represent the interests of North Carolinians. It is no longer mere speculation.
Elizabeth Dole is a member of the Banking Subcommittee and the Financial Institutions Subcommittee. As such, Dole must be held accountable for the meltdown of the financial institutions that has occurred in the last month. Not only did Dole fail in her responsibilities to her constituents, incredibly, she has received large contributions from the very banking institutes she was charged to regulate.
Dole sought election to the U.S. Senate and assured her constituents she would look out for their best interests. Dole, by virtue of her position on key subcommittees, was in a unique position to identify and respond to what is now a crisis that has eliminated 40 percent of the hard-earned retirement funds of average Americans.
A person of integrity would have stepped down and admitted their failure. Dole shows no such inclination. We must send a clear and unambiguous signal to Dole and others that her deplorable conduct is unacceptable. I am encouraging everyone to vote for Kay Hagan.
Steven Norris
Kernersville
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Fliers and media releases in the black community have championed Beverly Perdue for governor. The lottery was passed into law due to sleazy manipulation by our lawmakers and a tie-breaking vote by Lt. Gov. Perdue. North Carolina chose to use gambling revenue to meet some of the needs for education rather than support the state on the wages of taxpayers.
Rampant sin has caused God to take back material things that we have enjoyed. Specifically in North Carolina, the Lord has taken back gainful employment and our state budget for this physical year can have as much as a $2 billion shortfall. Last summer, the Lord withheld the rain and many businesses related to agriculture shut down throughout the state.
The N&O indicated that the recent stock market fall has cost the state of North Carolina about $12 billion of the $60 billion that the state had in its retirement fund. Also, the lottery will take away approximately $1.268 billion from the pockets of the people of North Carolina and yet the budgeted money allocated for education has decreased.
We as a state, a nation, along with the world have “sown the wind and are now reaping the whirlwind.” If these times are what Jesus called the “beginning of sorrows,” and I believe that they are, things are going to get much worse before they get better as we move closer to the tribulation period. Greed and “get something for nothing” is the dominant mindset of this world, and part of it is a byproduct of legalized gambling.
If Beverly Perdue is elected governor, we will be promoting someone to a higher office who has not acted in the best interest of the people of North Carolina. I recognize that through the deceit of Satan, many in this state love the lottery and the idea of “getting something for nothing,” though they are losing their hard-earned money pursuing a hopeless dream.
Christians do not have to entrap themselves by pursuing unrighteous gain and likewise should hold irresponsible politicians accountable.
Rev. Chester Debnam Jr.
Raleigh
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A recent poll found that 65 percent of Americans would like another choice in the upcoming presidential election. This finding represents an overdue growing dissatisfaction with both major political parties. Republicans and Democrats are usually portrayed as vastly different in action and philosophy, but history reveals great similarities between the two.
Both parties have consistently sacrificed individual freedoms in order to increase the scope and power of the federal government. Both parties readily increase taxes to fund pet projects and buy votes, while increasing a national debt that will haunt generations of Americans to come. Both parties seek to micromanage the lives of individual citizens while courting the support of vocal, militant or wealthy special interest groups.
It matters little whether John McCain or Barack Obama wins the presidential election and who wins most congressional elections. In four years the citizens of this nation will have less opportunity, wealth, personal and religious freedom, and personal and national security. We will certainly have more debt, illegal immigrants and governmental intrusion into every aspect of our lives.
I am not sure that the course we have taken can be reversed even if there were major defections from both parties. Our expansive welfare programs, uncontrolled borders and generally substandard public educational system have given us huge populations of persons with no thought of personal accountability or responsibility. These individuals have one priority in life, that being to get as much as they can with as little effort. They will gladly support and elect whoever promises them the most. If possible (as it will soon be), they would readily take everything that you have through legislative or bureaucratic processes. From their point of view, you owe it to them anyway.
We have sacrificed freedom and liberty in the transformation of our Constitutional Republic into a socialistic democracy. It’s time to suffer the consequences. The real shame is that our children will inherit a second-rate nation overwhelmed with debt because of our greed, ignorance or apathy.
Wiley Cockrell
Rocky Mount
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I wonder how many North Carolinians would want Sen. John McCain to be president if they knew that, according to The Economist, McCain is an “avid gambler” who “reportedly spent 14 hours straight playing craps in Las Vegas.”
While he was risking mainly his own life as a pilot, and while he nowadays merely risks his rich wife’s money when he shoots craps, as president his risk-taking and his unstable temper could endanger the lives of all Americans — and especially the lives of the members of our armed forces. Former Sen. Bob Smith, a New Hampshire Republican, said that McCain’s “temper would place the country at risk in international affairs, and the world perhaps in danger. In my mind, it should disqualify him.” Or as Republican Sen. Thad Cochran of Mississippi put it, “the thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He is erratic. He is hotheaded.” And yet McCain argues that his exceptionally level-headed opponent is the risky choice!
If McCain could notice the beam in his own eye, he would realize just how unsuited he is for the job of president.
Ken Wahl
Durham
