Juan Williams has published an article about voter ID that makes outrageous claims against the Republican Party (“GOP’s voter ID campaign aimed at suppressing constitutional rights,” Oct. 15). If he had looked at the evidence, he would not engage in such radical rhetoric and jump to unfair conclusions about the motives of the GOP in supporting voter identification laws.
{mosads}Minorities and the poor are often the victims of vote fraud — a term that encompasses the many types of election crimes voter ID laws are intended to prevent. In Troy, N.Y, Democrat election officials targeted public housing residents, college students, the semi-literate, a deaf man, the chronically ill and non-English speakers. Arkansas Democrat state Rep. Hudson Hallum conspired with eight others to buy votes in exchange for cheap vodka and whiskey. In Colorado, students were given free pizza and T-shirts by Obama campaign staffers if they voted early.
The son of Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) resigned from his position as director of field operations for his campaign because an undercover video surfaced in which he told someone “you have to forge” their utility statements in order to impersonate voters in Virginia.
The American public is cognizant of the reality of vote fraud. That’s why 64 percent of Americans who think voter fraud is “very” or “somewhat” serious, and 64 percent of African-Americans and 71 percent of those earning less than $20,000 a year agreed, according to an October 2012 Rasmussen poll.
Looking for examples of voter suppression? Here’s one: in Florida, voters received a fake letter from what appeared to be the State Division of Elections claiming the recipients were ineligible to vote, when in fact, the citizens who received these letters were eligible. This letter has only been received by registered Republican voters.
I ask Mr. Williams now, who are the real victims of voter suppression and vote fraud, and who are actually the criminals?
Richmond, Va.
Candidates silent on climate change
Snowmageddon, Irene, the derecho, Sandy: an accelerating frequency of formerly freakish disasters paralyzing populated areas, and all within the past three years.
Notably, the subject of climate change failed to come up in all three presidential debates. Perhaps pre-election, on the heels of this most recent devastation, this would be an appropriate juncture for both candidates to inform voters with a comment on what appears to be a pattern of peril the winner will have to contend with going forward.
From Karen Ann DeLuca, Alexandria, Va.
Obama doesn’t deserve trust after Benghazi
On Sept. 11, four Americans, including a U.S. ambassador, were killed in Benghazi. For weeks, the White House blamed and condemned an anti-Islamic video. After congressional hearings, the attack finally was labeled terrorism. On Oct. 24 we learned that the administration received real-time video and emails during the seven-hour siege. Ansar al-Sharia immediately claimed responsibility. The president still chose to campaign in Las Vegas the next day. Why, on the talk shows, did he still push the video? Because at his convention, he proclaimed that “al Qaeda is on the retreat,” and this attack destroyed his narrative.
Benghazi’s either a cover-up or incompetence. Why was the president disconnected in the first debate? Because he knew the real story of Benghazi and we didn’t.
We’ve had national security leaks from the White House without comment by the president. He issued an executive order to prevent the release of documents in the “Fast and Furious” scandal. Obama said he’d “usher in a new era of open government and transparency.” His theme, “hope and change” is now “trust.” While our economy stagnated and the Middle East crumbles, the president has played celebrity in chief instead of commander in chief.
He’s lost my confidence and trust. I’m hoping for “change” on Election Day. We deserve better.
From Craig Boyer, Bayport, N.Y.
Don’t take men’s vote for granted
Given the high volatility of the “women’s vote,” as if women were a homogeneous group, I can understand why both President Obama and Mitt Romney are worried that this volatile vote might go to the other guy (“Critics slam Mitt Romney on equal pay,” Oct. 17). However, if men and fathers don’t have a candidate who speaks to their interests and concerns, what makes either candidate think that men will even bother to get out of bed on Election Day?
Today’s boys, men and fathers are not the boys, men and fathers of the greatest generation. Males today are living in a gender-reversed world where they are at the wrong end of gender gaps in education, health and jobs and income in the younger generations.
Recent polls show that about 93 percent of black voters are committed to President Obama. Until either the president or Mitt Romney can see roughly 93 percent of male voters committed to them, they should not take the “men’s vote” for granted. With less than three weeks to go, today would be a good day to begin addressing the needs and concerns of boys, men and fathers in today’s world.
From Gordon E. Finley, Miami
Bahrain remains committed to freedom
In response to The Hill’s Oct. 31 article, “State condemns Bahrain’s crackdown on political demonstrations,” the government of Bahrain would like to highlight misconceptions regarding the temporary postponement of public protests.
Recently, large demonstrations in Bahrain turned increasingly violent endangering the safety of the general public and resulting in the death of a policeman. As a result, the Ministry of Interior has curtailed large unauthorized public assemblies. This is a temporary halt imposed so that order can be restored.
Bahrain is committed to reform and the freedoms of assembly, association and expression. The government looks forward to working with opposition leaders toward national reconciliation and to create guidelines and standards of conduct that enable peaceful and orderly demonstrations to once again take place.
From Fahad A. AlBinali, counselor for Foreign Media Affairs and spokesperson for the Information Affairs Authority, Isa Town, Kingdom of Bahrain