Herald letters for Tuesday, Aug. 12

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Aug 11, 2008 | by BAY AREA NEWS GROUP

McCain's campaign can't run on GOP record

THE REPUBLICANS ARE again running a negative campaign because they know they can't win on their record. They've controlled the federal government most of the last seven years and the results have been disastrous.

They've cut taxes for the wealthy, increased our debt to $9.6 trillion while neglecting to fund the basic functions of government, targeted the poor and have done nothing for the 47 million uninsured. Well, Republicans in Congress did help pass a bankruptcy bill that consigned to permanent wage serfdom anyone unlucky enough to suffer a catastrophic illness.

We've seen a central tenet of conservative philosophy and deregulation lead to a mortgage meltdown, and implacable Republican hostility to any proposal benefitting working people. For a few examples among many, they've opposed increases in the minimum wage and the Family and Medical Leave Act and expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Employee Free Choice Act.

Worse than the horrific effects of a misbegotten war is the corrosive effect on the American soul. We once saw ourselves as a nation that didn't start wars or torture, and respected the rights of its citizens. Now, conservative friends deride these ideas as quaint.

These aren't merely the policies of the current administration, but Republican policies, passed by a party that has lost its collective mind. John McCain, with his record of 95 percent support for President Bush, is part and parcel of this sorry record, so he chooses to demonize a good man, Barack Obama. He's sold his soul for his ambition and should be ashamed.

Norman J. Hansen

Pleasanton

McNerney should be helping solve the energy crisis

People wonder why we hate our politicians. Congressman Jerry McNerney is a disgrace to this congressional district. We are having an energy crisis and his campaign blamed former Congressman Richard Pombo for high gas prices when gas reached $2 per gallon. If that is the case, McNerney is the cause of gas being $4 per gallon!

The Republicans set a vote to stay and solve the energy crisis and work on securing more energy supplies. Congress voted and the result was 213-212. One vote by McNerney allowed Congress to go on vacation and do nothing about energy. He voted for vacation and doing nothing about more energy.

McNerney has shown his allegiance to the extreme environmentalist Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco who will not allow a vote on oil drilling to occur.

We need a congressman who will not go on vacation when people need issues solved. Our district deserves better. We need Dean Andal to replace McNerney in November.

Robert Blanch,

Manteca