Health care and crap-shooters

As a physician and presumably one who makes more than the $250,000 magic mark, I am often asked for whom I will vote. Those who asked are often shocked by my answer. If it were all about me and me alone I would definitely vote for John McCain. His health care plan is better and my taxes would not go up. However it is not about me. I love America and all that she stands for, so I am putting country first and voting for Barack Obama. Yes, I will probably see my taxes go up but I will also see the division, fear and hate pass from this great nation. It is past time that each of us take off the “ME” hat and put country first.

Robert Harper, M.D.
Raleigh

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I enjoy reading all the anti-Obama letters from people who are so certain he will be an awful president. They are probably the very same people who voted twice for George W. Bush. Don’t you just LOVE the irony?

Sam Hershey
Raleigh

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Have you noticed that when the Democrats have an indoor rally the event is open to the public but Republican rallies require a ticket?  And to get a ticket you have to go to a Republican campaign office where, I am sure, you are screened.  Heaven forbid that an Obama supporter would get into a McCain or Palin event.  

This speaks volumes to me about the willingness of the Republican candidates to risk a confrontation with an ordinary citizen who disagrees with them, unlike Obama who had a dialogue with so-called Joe the Plumber.  Why are the Republicans such control freaks who are afraid to entertain serious questions from the rank and file on the other side?   

Ron Sinzdak
Clayton

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There’s an e-mail circulating claiming that people who support Sen. Obama aren’t able to say why they do.  

 As a white Catholic woman, raised in a small town, I may not seem to be a typical supporter, but I support Obama for his stances on women’s well-being, energy, the war in Iraq and his health care plan. On women’s well-being, Sens. Obama and Biden have fought for equal pay for equal work.  

On energy, they focus more on environmentally sound, renewable sources than our current reliance on oil and nuclear.

Obama has a comprehensive plan for ending the war in Iraq.  I feel the number of lives lost is a tragedy. And the money and resources we have expended there could have been invested here.

Most important to me is health care.  Although I’m a fairly healthy 33 year-old, I have a condition that requires medication costing over $12,000 a year.  I am fortunate to have health insurance, but I know that I could be one of the millions who do not.

I support Barack Obama because I care about my country and those that are less fortunate than I.

Amy Ross Frazer
Raleigh

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John McCain’s health plan is a real solution. The Democrats’ plan is just a promise built on hope.  
If you want to really know the difference in the health plans of the candidates, spend some time doing real research on the web sites.  Read all of the Democrats’ plan, then read the McCain plan.  You will see the Democratic plan is based on goals which they “hope” they can do. Democrats will also micromanage your medical community into a nightmare.  McCain’s plan is a sensible, do-able plan with real solutions.  

Don’t believe me, research and compare both plans. Do not take someone’s word for it.   

Tom Beeman
New Bern

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Several issues have surfaced and been debated to death in relation to our most crucial presidential election in recent history.  For me this presidential race isn’t about political parties, race, gender or even the economy, although our economic crisis is one I fear we wont break out of for awhile.  For me, this presidential race is about our personal safety.  

Does anyone remember 9/11?  Do you remember the sickening feeling that amassed in your stomach for not just hours, but days, weeks on end, hoping and praying for our country?  Do you remember who was at fault for that?  Do you remember who proudly proclaimed responsibility for our nations saddest hours?  It was a terrorist.  

No one cared that day what political party you belonged to.  No one cared what race or gender you were.  And no one cared about your economic status.  What mattered was our country’s safety.  What mattered that day was calling your loved ones, wherever they may have been, to make sure they were safe, to tell them you loved them one more time.  What mattered was learning that upwards of 3,000 people have lost their lives or have been physically affected because of 9/11.  All of these things took place because of a terrorist.  

I don’t want a repeat of 9/11.  I’m sure no one does, except a terrorist.  So why then would America even consider electing a president who has ties to terrorism?  Barack Obama had his political coming out party at known terrorist Bill Ayers’ home.  Does this sound like behavior of a dedicated American citizen?  Do you really think those strong and influential ties have been broken?

Let’s also remember that Michelle Obama hasn’t been proud to be an American the majority of her 44 years.  While I may have disagreed with some decisions regarding our country I have, for all the 32 years of my life, been extremely proud to be an American.

One may not agree with the various political views and opinions for our country.  One may feel a change is in order.  I certainly hope and pray all voters agree that safety is a main issue for our country.  I hope and pray voters remember 9/11 and how unsafe we all felt afterward.

Danielle L. Stowe
Pinehurst

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Senator McCain makes no secret of his intense attachment to craps, a pure game of chance. According to The Economist web site, McCain “has reportedly spent 14 hours straight playing craps in Las Vegas.” This love of gambling explains why he has lurched from one strategy to another in the campaign, apparently with the devil-may-care attitude of “let’s take a chance and see if it works.” In fact, even a McCain supporter, Tucker Carlson, used the word “gambler” on television in describing how McCain has run his campaign.

Do we really want a crap-shooter in the White House?

By contrast, before coming to Washington, Barack Obama played weekly private poker games in Illinois with some of his legislator colleagues, and apparently came out ahead because he played thoughtfully and well. As the N & O’s endorsement so aptly put it, Obama would give us a government of “thought before deed.” By contrast, McCain would give us a government of “let’s take a chance and see what happens.”

Ken Wahl
Durham

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Change is the magic word that we are all hearing during this election campaign. Change is what Barack Obama is promising to give us. Change is what John McCain is promising to give us. Change is what Congress is promising us. Change is what the president is promising us. Change is what Wall Street is promising us. Change is what the financial industry is promising us. Change is what state and local government are promising us. Change is what the American people want.

And I truly believe that the candidates, the government and big business truly want to give the American people change. I have no doubt that they will give us change. The problem is that all they intend to do is convert the dollars in our paychecks into change.

We better be careful about how much change we are willing to accept. We may not be able to afford it! They’ve already turned my IRA and 401K into change.

Emsley Hamilton Jr
Raleigh

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I am a 4th generation cattle producer from Waynesville and the former president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association. I personally support Barack Obama for president because I believe he has got what our country and agriculture needs during this difficult time.

At a time when our national debt has doubled to $10 trillion in the last seven years, when banks are failing, and the stock market is crashing, Obama provides the steady hand needed to change our policies and restore the unprecedented prosperity our country enjoyed during the 1990s. Of course, what’s good for our country is also good for agriculture and rural America.

The Obama campaign has worked hard to reach out to all segments of the agriculture industry to listen their concerns. He believes in robust international trade. Obama has also pledged to base his administration’s decision-making on sound science. He understands that use of guns for hunting and other sport is part of the way of life in rural America.

John Queen III
Waynesville

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So, according to U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes, “Liberals hate Real Americans who work hard, have success and live in small towns”.  And according to Rep. Michelle Bachman of Minnesota, Congress should be investigated for members who are “Pro-America” or “Anti-America”. 

Minnesota can decide about Rep. Bachman but here at home we need to consider Hayes’ viewpoint.  Does he really believe what he said or is it campaign blather?  Since he was so quick to apologize, Hayes either realized he was wrong or cynically realized the environment of North Carolina is rapidly changing from negative to positive and he needed some quick CYA.

Either way, the remarks of both representatives are designed to be divisive and intimidating at a time when the country needs to be united.  Perhaps they both don’t want to realize that we are all Americans no matter where we live or what we believe.  Maybe they’ve forgotten that the beauty of America is that freedom allows the expression of any viewpoint.

What I don’t understand is how we keep electing people who say they love America but clearly can’t stand Americans.

For once it it time we were represented by people whose main goal is not to divide the country into armed camps glaring at each other over fences.

Ronald Bryant
Raleigh

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Republican Colin Powell recently spoke of why he is disappointed in his party. Whether or not you agree with his vote, his thoughts are certainly worth noting:  He is disappointed because his party not only tolerates, but encourages the false impression that Barack Obama is a Muslim when, in fact, Obama has always been a Christian and has never been a Muslim.  

He went on to say that what is even worse is that this is even an issue. He said that it is absolutely un-American to say to a young, Muslim boy who is growing up somewhere in the United States, “You will never be president because you are a Muslim.”  This kind of thinking goes against everything we stand for in America.

Obviously, the fear and suspicion in this country is based on the very real fact that we were attacked, and over 3,000 people were killed by a group of radical Muslims. But we must remember that al-Qaida is in no way representative of the vast majority of Muslims in the world or in this country.

We need to open our eyes and pay attention to finding ways to solve this nation’s problems, rather than falling victim to those who would have us believe that fear and prejudice are the same thing as patriotism.

David Barnes
Winston-Salem

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Many important issues surround this election, perhaps more than any other in history. Our economy is in shambles, our military is stretched  thin, our enemies hate us more than ever, our allies have lost respect for us, our schools are under performing, and thousands of Americans can’t afford health insurance.

Despite the seriousness of these issues most of the people I have talked are more concerned about their personal income taxes. Most of us will have lower taxes regardless of who is elected. How much less depends on multiple factors that not even the IRS fully understands. But is a difference of a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars more important than the future of our country? We should be more concerned with which ticket is better prepared and has the vision to repair our economy, fix our schools, take care of Americans, and start to fix the international disaster George W. Bush has created over the past 8 years.

James Powell
Apex

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Is it fair to blame George W. Bush for all his misguidance over the past eight years without laying the same burden of blame on the Republican establishment for its blind and unwavering support of his administration’s domestic and foreign policies.

Whatever happened to the Grand Old Party of Lincoln, with the foresight to govern by the people and for the people - how did it slip away to be fouled by and for power and greed?  

Folks, it is not Joe the plumber the Republicans give a damn about, it is maintaining the 400 to 1 wage differential between the working class and the CEOs, CFOs, the hedge-fund managers and Wall Street traders that make $100 million plus per year and pay as little as 15 percent, and some cases, zero income tax.

It is a tangled web these Republicans have weaved, and the last thing this country needs at this stage of malfunction is a proclaimed maverick following in the path of a profound ideologue.

William T. “Nick” Smith
Wilson

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Although machiavellian tactics have been employed by politicians since the beginning of time, the non-editorial news media has never surpassed politicians until this presidential election in the use of them.  From one with an ethical and legal obligation to protect the health and safety of the public, I am severely disappointed in those who put ethics aside for their own political ends.  

I’m also ashamed of the heralded effort to “get out the vote”.  Ethically one should not vote or encourage others to vote without the voter being informed; and yet how can the public be informed with obvious suppression of information, over reporting of out of context statements, entertainment news confused with real facts and only inaccurate surface coverage of issues.
 I’m sure media officials will be satisfied with their all new low of manipulating this election.  As always, the politicians who spend and promise the most will probably win, contrary to their actual real unstated plan for their term in office.

Jeff Miller
Raleigh

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Having watched the campaigns over the last year, one thing has become abundantly clear — Republicans are now touting Populist ideals long held by yellow dog Democrats.

When Joe the Plumber”and all the little guys are embraced by the Republican Party, one must wonder if they are not indeed taking a page from William Jennings Bryan or, for that matter, John Edwards.

As for the recent comments from letter writers concerning Barack Obama’s statements about sharing the wealth, there has been a Republican push for a massive redistribution of wealth the past eight years benefiting the top 1 percent — not small businesses or the working class. The top 5 percent of wage earners in America have 75 percent of the wealth, yet they got richer with the tax breaks which were to stimulate the economy.

Wow, that sure was a success, wasn’t it!  

We middle American Joe the Plumbers and poor folks should be so gullible as to believe Republicans care about our well-being and vote for the same policies again. I don’t think so.

Jim Nolan
Morehead City

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Rod Dreher’s advice to John McCain on the Oct. 10 Other Opinion page was superb. We are in a very hard time, and our way out is through determination and personal responsibility, not any form of government bailout.

On the same page, Bruce Lightner’s play of the race card — don’t be afraid of Barack Obama because he’s black — was pathetic. I don’t care if Obama is purple. His party put us in this financial crisis (see Steven Holmes’ NY Times article, 9/30/1999 — a year and a half before Bill Clinton left office), insisting the money people give mortgages to high risk parties.  

Since the Democrats took control of Congress two years ago and opened the government’s money flow (yes President Bush shares the blame, but Congress writes the legislation), look at the results.  Trust Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to help us out of this?  Think Barack Obama is better qualified than John McCain to be Commander-in-Chief?  

Our choices are not terrific here, but comparing a there’s-going-to-be-reform Republican war hero (McCain’s record supports this reform claim — he has a record) versus Obama’s business-as-usual Democratic Party proposals and his complete lack of qualification to be commander-in-chief, this is a no brainer.  

Hillary Clinton was correct in her repeated strong criticisms of Obama not that many months ago.  Give Hillary a chance to come back and run four years from now.

Peter Smith
Chapel Hill

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I find it ironic that the front page headline in your paper on the day The N&O endorsed Barack Hussein Obama was about the Herbst family who had their landholdings and belongings seized by the Zimbabwe government. Talk about redistributing the wealth, that’s where your paper has decided to influence us to go. If you are voting as a 95 percent bloc just to get a token tax refund, you are ready for socialism.

Read the article to find that a government official received the spoils of such a socialist move.  Not an ordinary man.  Obama only needs your vote.  After the election, presidents care very little about your opinion or your opinion of them.  Or so this paper says about George W. Bush.

Your candidate will only do what the country club to which he belongs allows him to do.  The U.S. Senate is the most exclusive club in the world.  Perhaps they will split up our earned wealth among themselves, they will need something to offset the increase in taxes Obama will propose on them, sure.

William C. Barbee Jr.
Sims

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I read your Oct. 19 article on Wally Herbst, the Zimbabwean man who lost his land in Africa after a redistribution of land. The unfortunate series of events that fell upon Herbst happened to many other people in Zimbabwe via the redistribution of wealth by Robert Mugabe. Fidel Castro did this nobel deed for the “revolution.” The socialist Hugo Chavez wants to do the same.  

This all sounds familiar. Isn’t that what Barack Obama wants for the United States, so he can “spread the wealth”?  Be afraid America.  Be very afraid!    

Freddy J. Garrido
Wake Forest

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As a recent transplant to North Carolina I have long envied North Carolina’s good fortune of having Elizabeth Dole in the Senate. Now, having for the first time in my life having registered to vote as a Democrat, living in North Carolina, I still intend to vote for Dole.

If nothing else, she had the resolve to vote against the popular trend and reject the Wall Street bailout that has thus far proven itself just one more step in eight years of looting the national treasury under varied guises of public interest. Just because of my respect for her unique influence prior to living in North Carolina, and her willingness to support the middle class voting against the Wall Street bailout, she will be the only Republican official for whom I vote, other than immediately local officials who may have proven effective, in this election.

Peter John Stone
Lenoir
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As the final days of the presidential campaign approach, I find them more hilarious than “Saturday Night Live.” John McCain and Sarah Palin continually portray themselves as representing “Joe the Plumber”, “Joe Six Pack” and “The Real America”.  

I don’t think “The Real America” identifies with Sarah Palin having been bought $150,000 worth of outfits, or of Cindy McCain wearing $300,000 worth of attire and jewelry in just one appearance.

I don’t think “The Real America” approves of continuing the Bush tax cut for someone making $4.1 million a year as Cindy McCain does, or of not considering someone to be rich unless they make over $5 million a year as John McCain stated.

I don’t think “The Real America” has trouble remembering how many homes they have as John McCain admitted, but rather has trouble as to how they are going to pay for the one home they have (if they still have one).
And I don’t think “The Real America” advocates the slaughter of wildlife from airplanes or helicopters as Palin does. “

Real America” has a choice to make at the polls on Nov. 4 and that choice is obvious.

Kenneth Elowitz
Cary

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I am an Army wife who realized it wasn't the Army who controlled when my husband could be deployed, what type of protective equipment he would use in a war zone, or what benefits he will receive when he leaves the military.

My husband’s chances of being injured or killed while serving in Iraq were higher than they should have been because Elizabeth Dole voted against funding to armor existing Humvees and purchase new armored trucks.  

Although my husband was disabled, my family is thankful that he is alive and doesn’t face the eminent threat of being deployed. However, when Dole voted 22 times to cut veterans health care and benefits and allowed veterans’ health care costs to triple, we realized we were nave to think that my husband would be done fighting when he left Iraq.

Dole has not done right by my family and her voting record proves it. I will support Kay Hagan for U.S. Senate because her voting record proves that she will fight in Washington for every military family. I’m glad that I realized politicians control our military before it was too late for me to express my opinion at the voting booth.

Tracy Mauro
Fayetteville

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As a lifelong registered Democrat and fervent Barack Obama supporter I must say that I am very disappointed in the ongoing ACORN situation, but for Republicans to suggest that this is jeopardizing the fabric of democracy is the worst type of hyperbole.

Rather than being a case of widespread voter fraud it is simply a case of a few unscrupulous workers turning in voter registration cards filled out with fictitious information. While appalling, there has been no proof whatsoever that ACORN or anybody else had people waiting in the wings to turn up on Election Day and attempt to vote using this information. For Republicans to suggest otherwise is further proof of the desperate lengths they will go to in an attempt to get themselves elected.

I also find it curious that while this tempest in a teapot has the Republicans in an uproar, they were quite accommodating when the greatest case of voter fraud ever was perpetrated upon this country by Jeb Bush, Katherine Harris and the Supreme Court of the United States. Glass houses indeed.

Richard O’Connor
Raleigh

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This presidential election reminds me of the children’s story of the emperor’s new clothes. However in this case, no one wants to report that the emperor has no clothes.

Here we have a politician that has done nothing. When pressed his supporters say he has managed a great campaign as if we are to believe he is in charge. Here is someone that is very charming, is a great orator and almost no emotion. Something like the political equivalent of a Stepford Wife. He is the creation of the Lakeshore liberals in Chicago.
A vote for Obama is not a vote for change, it is a vote for Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and George Soros.

Bill Conklin
_Raleigh

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Sen. Joe Biden says Barack Obama will have our enemies “test” him within six months if he is elected. I recall another president who flunked the test when Americans were held hostage in Iran for 444 days. The day President Ronald Reagan was sworn in, the Iranians quickly released our hostages knowing Reagan would pass that “test” with flying colors, unlike his predecessor, Jimmy Carter.

I doubt Iran or any of our other enemies will want to test Sen. John McCain. America cannot afford another Jimmy Carter in the White House, and that’s what we might get if Obama is elected, tests and all.
 
John Edwards
Louisburg

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I've had it with the continued, unsupported accusations that Barack Obama is a Muslim or terrorist.  

The following happened to me this morning.  I was in a parking lot with some Obama signs on my truck. An older gentleman pulled in and asked if I lived in the community.  I answered that I lived in the next town over.  He told me I should take those ?%#@ signs back where I come from.  Then he asked, How can a white American support a Muslim?   

I told him respectfully that Obama is not a Muslim.  He said he was.  I asked how he knew and he huffed and said It’s in the books and records.  But it was clear he wasn’t concerned with support for his claim and that we were going nowhere.

This anecdote makes two things clear (at least to me); 1) being anti-Muslim is perceived as a more acceptable way to be racist, and 2) John McCain, Sarah Palin, and their advisers have stoked the fire of intolerance.  They are willing to divide the country in a desperate move to gain the presidency.

We must hold the McCain campaign and the RNC accountable for their inflammatory rhetoric. A good time to accomplish that would be election day (or before — vote early).

Brent Groce
Lewisville