Biased poll gives readers the wrong idea on immigration

The Hill recently published an article about a new Public Religion Research Institute-Brookings Institution poll that claims 62 percent of Americans support a pathway to citizenship for “immigrants living in the U.S. illegally” (“Vast majority supports legal status for illegal immigrants in poll,” June 10).

Don’t be fooled. This poll was financed by two open-borders organizations that back amnesty for illegal immigrants. And they got exactly what they paid for. 

The biased poll did not survey registered voters. Instead, it interviewed adults, which includes noncitizens and illegal immigrants — hardly representative of the views of American voters.

In contrast, a recent Washington Post survey of registered voters found that 39 percent were less likely and only 27 percent more likely to vote for a congressional candidate who supports a path to citizenship for those in the country illegally. 

The same poll also found that 41 percent of self-described independents and 60 percent of Republicans are less likely to support a candidate that favors citizenship for illegal immigrants.

Even this PRRI-Brookings poll shows that immigration reform places second-to-last in order of legislative priorities for respondents. 

Voters deserve better from these biased pollsters who promote their pro-amnesty agenda. 

Washington, D.C.

The Senate must confirm Obama’s VA nominees

From Diana J. Mason, president, American Academy of Nursing

Eric Shinseki’s resignation from the Veterans Affairs Department comes after outcries from Congress for the president to hold the secretary accountable for the problems in the VA health system that are in the spotlight. Perhaps the Senate ought to examine its own role in this crisis.

Shinseki led the VA with two of the three assistant secretary positions unfilled because the Senate has yet to confirm the president’s nominees. Linda Schwartz was nominated last summer by President Obama to be assistant secretary for policy and planning but has yet to be confirmed. A veteran and nurse, she’s served as the commissioner for Veterans Affairs in Connecticut. A nurse in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, she became disabled from a freak accident while on a cargo plane. She defied the odds and recovered with an unwavering commitment to serving the nation’s veterans.

Schwartz has an excellent record of leadership. On Nov. 19, the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted unanimously to support Schwartz’s appointment and she was expected to be approved quickly by the full Senate. Six months later, the full Senate has not even considered her nomination.

While Congress has held Shinseki accountable for the excessive and unacceptable wait times for veterans using the VA health system, who will hold the Senate accountable for its delays in ensuring that the VA has the leadership it needs to fix this problem and prevent others from occurring?

Washington, D.C.

Give Bowe Bergdahl a chance to explain himself

From Earl Beal

A majority of Americans disfavor Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s release from five years of captive torture.

It is easy to vilify and kick a man when he is down, especially when he has yet to have the opportunity to respond to those detractors who don’t have a clue of what actually happened. Has anyone even yet considered the fact that the man might not bear any culpability relative to his capture?

As an example of America’s degenerative state at its finest, there are even those elements out there who have threatened this man’s parents with bodily harm, as they remain in seclusion, fearful for their lives.

Only Bergdahl and a few of his military interrogators at this time really know the facts and circumstances of his capture by this Taliban affiliate group five years ago. But as one would have it, these print and electronic media talking-head pundit expert know-it-all factions in this country have charged, prosecuted and convicted this man of desertion and/or battlefield condition AWOL.

Until and unless the facts of this case are fully developed and have become known, perhaps these wisdom-filled geniuses might stand down in the interim.

Terre Haute, Ind.

The Senate must fund the Elder Abuse Act

From James R. Silkenat, president, American Bar Association

An estimated 5 million elderly are victims of abuse in America each year, crimes that cost upward of $5 billion annually in medical costs. They are also scammed out of an estimated $2.9 billion per year.

Earlier this month, a subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee considered the appropriations bill for the departments of Labor and Health and Human Services, which contained a modest $25 million request to fund the Elder Justice Act. The law was enacted in 2010 but was never funded. This desperately needed $25 million would fund grants to test ways to detect and prevent elder abuse, strengthen data collection and support research into elder abuse.

The American Bar Association has long worked to improve the justice system’s response to elder abuse and to enhance awareness about the issue. We urge the Senate to fund the Elder Abuse Act in full as an important step toward reducing the suffering and societal costs of elder abuse in the United States. 

Washington, D.C.