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Don't project: Barack Obama is not Rev. Wright

Editor, The Times:

Rev. Michael Pfleger's comments about Sen. Hillary Clinton have been in the headlines this past week ["Chicago priest apologizes for Clinton comment," Times, News, June 1]. Like Rev. Jeremiah Wright's comments, they have been used against Sen. Barack Obama despite there being no indication that he agrees in any way. I find it rather amazing how people can act like these comments, made by third parties, might as well have been Obama's own.

We all have friends who have some views that are very different from our own. At the same time, Clinton has personally made troubling statements. From her outright lies about being under sniper fire in Bosnia, to her RFK comment, the things she has said are just that: things she has said. They aren't from a supporter who could hold distinctly different views than Clinton's.

— Gabriel Conroy, Bellingham

End of a dynasty

Your reader's gushing letters about Sen. Hillary Clinton's "dignity" and "strength of character" were hysterical ["Try not to slam it in Sen. Clinton's face on the way out," and "Right behind you," Northwest Voices, May 9].

The Clintons ran a vile campaign against Sen. Barack Obama and it finally blew back on them.

Sen. Hillary Clinton began by sending out lying mailers about Obama's position on abortion rights to the women of New Hampshire.

She ran a blatantly racist campaign in an effort to "ghettoize" Sen. Barack Obama.

If you disagree with me here, please tell that to the African-American voters across the U.S. who got Bill Clinton elected twice, then saw very clearly what the Clintons were doing before South Carolina and dropped their support from 40 percent to 10 percent and less, overnight.

Furthermore, Clinton never apologized for voting to authorize the Iraq war and for the Kyl-Lieberman amendment to attack Iran.

I supported Hillary Clinton at the beginning of this campaign -- but her campaign tactics opened my eyes.

This campaign of hers and the Clintons' political dynasty is finally over -- thank God.

Goodbye to both of them, and good riddance.

— Aaron Thomas, Seattle

Right in vote

I have been very disappointed at the way the media in general (who in the beginning appeared to be supportive) have now bashed Sen. Hillary Clinton at every turn and keep pushing Sen. Barack Obama down our throats. I'll not give up on her, nor will others, countrywide, that I have spoken to. We all feel the same.

Obama is not qualified enough, at this time, to lead our country. He needs seasoning first as a vice president. Those who I have been in contact with state, in one form or another, they'll not vote for him. In fact, various individuals have stated they'll either not vote, vote for Sen. John McCain or some variation of that theme. The only way Obama gets their votes is for Hillary to be on the ticket also.

If the Democratic Party honchos would allow Michigan and Florida delegates to be counted, there is no doubt Hillary would win the nomination. I personally have decided that I will vote, not for Obama, not for McCain or anyone else, but I will vote for a Democrat. I will write in Hillary Clinton for president of the United States.

— Roberta Chargin, Tacoma

Fighting man

The business of war

They died in service to our country. That sentence was heard many times as the nation observed Memorial Day.

I'm a father, a businessperson and a Vietnam veteran. Over the past several years, I've examined my military experience. Two time Medal of Honor recipient Marine Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler helped me. He finished his career, looked back and wrote a booklet titled "War is a Racket." He said he was a thug for big business.

My studies confirm what the general said. Behind all of the flag waving, and the shouts of freedom, democracy and service, is a massive empire devoted to profit by any means. Weapons are our No. 1 export product. The military is a tool. We are taught to puff our chests, and honor the military -- alive and dead -- but we are never taught to question the business of war.

They died in service to our country. I hope we think about those words.

— Arnold Stieber, Grass Lake, Mich.

Without humanity and justice

My heart was recently lifted as I sat and listened to local members of Iraq Veteran's Against the War speak to a crowd of 600 at Seattle Town Hall. I was surrounded by those in my community that I feel a strong kinship with. We are all deeply saddened that our nation is still occupying a country we had no right to invade. We are frustrated with a Congress that makes speeches yet continues to fund war without end, without oversight and without humanity or justice.

How many more stories of soldiers committing suicide and deplorable conditions in the VA hospitals must we hear before more of my fellow citizens will decide that it is time for them to join the struggle?

How much longer will we shrug our shoulders in defeat? How can I get you dear readers to help?

— Gabriel LaValle, Lynnwood

Faux fishing

Fair is not here

Amazing: a $20 fine for killing a gray whale.

They must have clipped the barbs on their harpoons because I get a $100 fine for not clipping my barbs while salmon fishing.

— Kevin McCormick

Godly lessons

Second chances

Just walk through a Third World country and you can see how blessed America is.

Look at all the people who have been able to start over with a new beginning and raise a family in a country where they have basic freedoms.

This is exactly the opposite of what the Rev. Jeremiah Wright has been preaching from the pulpit. America is turning away from its creator. For every action there is a reaction and there are always consequences, whether good or bad. I don't believe that God causes everything to happen. I think some things happen just because we, as humans, have made really stupid decisions. But God will work them out for his purposes.

I don't think Christians' frustration and maybe even anger toward the Rev. Wright has anything to do with being "comfortable"; what he is saying just isn't biblical! I would not compare him to a prophet of the Bible. I think that God's word and His Holy Spirit are convicting enough standing on their own. Preach the truth. Preach the word, but don't get in the way of it.

And since when does God care about the color of a person's skin? Last I checked, He cares about the heart.

We as a country should be reaching out to the "people of the land": the homeless, veterans, etc. We are not perfect but we do have a calling, a responsibility that comes along with the blessings that we have been given. God has blessed America, greatly.

And one other thing. God said he will redeem his people, Israel, and now the Gentiles. Israel turned away, hence the consequences. America has and is turning away from Him, but God is a God of Mercy and second chances for both Israel and America.

— Sarah Waltz, Snohomish

Marijuana dichotomy

Toxic

Two questions and two answers:

1. Since the beginning of time, how many people have died from the toxic effects of marijuana? Answer: None. Not one.

2. In the past 70 years, how many people have died, been killed, locked away in cages with rapists and murderers for decades, or otherwise had their lives ruined as a result of the hateful, racist, senseless prohibition of the marijuana flower? Answer: Countless millions.

Yet, how many people have died, or been permanently maimed and ruined by the deadly, addictive, violence-inducing drug (alcohol) peddled by Sen. John McCain and Cindy McCain, just this year? Millions?

They will rationalize that their drug is legal, but so is abortion, yet they condemn that act on the basis that it kills "countless millions" every year. What is to be made of this dichotomy?

— Mark Mason, Auburn

Scantily-clad baristas

Nipple espresso

After hearing about people being upset by scantily clad baristas, I had a great idea for a coffee stand.

How about one designed to look like a combination abortion clinic/gay-wedding chapel staffed by pole-dancing Satan worshippers in Nazi uniforms?

The self appointed morality police would squeal like a pig.

I love a little moral outrage with my nipple espresso (oops -- I mean triple espresso).

— Dennis Doucette, Auburn

Jobs for teens

A not-so-free market

Froma Harrop's column misses the point ["Jobs for teens: a stimulating idea," Syndicated column, June 2]. The government is the problem, not the solution, when it comes to creating jobs for teenagers.

When the market was free to determine the employment needs and the wage compensation, we had lots of teens employed. But now, the government has interfered by establishing minimum-wage laws -- the major barrier to teen employment, causing millions of young people to be unaffordable to potential employers.

Get the government out of the business of telling employers how to run their businesses, and our economy will put the country's teens to work.

— Bob Benze, Silverdale