The inaccuracies in a recent letter to the editor by Dave Stella (Dec. 18) are too numerous to address in one letter but I must respond to a few of them.
This is an example of a campaign to create the impression that President Obama is a radical and out of control president that is being pushed by the right despite all facts to the contrary.
Mr. Stella claims that Obama “is perfectly willing to strong arm, insult and demonize anyone who disagrees with his policies.” From Day One, Obama has tried to work with Republicans on various issues. He appointed his Democratic opponent as Secretary of State. He has kept Bush’s Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense. He has allowed Joe Lieberman to retain his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security Committee despite the fact the he actively campaigned against Obama.
The health care bill has been significantly delayed trying to work with Republicans on getting a bipartisan bill. When was the last time that there were multiple town halls to get feedback from the American people on any issue under Republican rule? Contrast this with the Bush Administration, which ousted an undercover CIA agent threatening her life along with anyone she had ever worked with because her husband dared to write an op-ed criticizing the Administration.
The Chief of Staff of the Vice President then lied to prosecuters about what happened, was convicted by a jury and was pardoned by Bush before ever spending one day in jail. Or how about using the Justice Department for political purposes to convict Democrats and firing eight prosecutors who didn’t fall into line, including Seattle’s John McKay. See also the sad stories of Don Siegelman, General Shinseki, Paul O’Neill, Navy Lt. Commander Charles Swift, and Tom Dashle, etc, etc.
Mr. Stella also claims that Obama “is perfectly willing to bankrupt the nation and enslave our descendants in a sea of debt.” According to the conservative Heritage Foundation, the size of the federal government debt grew twice as fast under Bush as it did under Clinton.
Federal spending increased 57 percent from 2001-2008. Clinton left the nation with a $293 billion surplus. Bush left a $410 billion deficit. Republicans threw out the provision for Congressional bills to include how they will be paid for when they became the majority. So much for fiscal responsibility.
Mr. Stella implores Obama to “leave us alone” and “get out of the way of Americans who know how to be prosperous.”
Yes, please allow Enron, Bernie Madoff, Tyco, AIG, Bear Stearns, all those companies putting lead in our children’s toys and toothpaste and salmonella in our food, all those companies that gave mortgages to anyone breathing, the appraisers who faked appraisals, the ratings agencies that gave AAA ratings to junk, and bankers who still think they deserve million dollar bonuses while their customers lose their homes to operate without any government interference.
Finally, whenever you hear criticism that Obama is worse than Hitler, remember this: secret prisons, torture, and illegal wiretapping of Americans.
Jennifer Hille, Redmond
