Newt Gingrich is responsible for the divisive climate of our politics

Kathleen Parker had a good take on the recent South Carolina debate [“The weeds in Gingrich’s garden,” Opinion, Jan. 21].

With the results of that state’s Republican primary, I wonder if Newt Gingrich has thanked CNN debate moderator John King for giving Gingrich a chance to show his pugnaciousness, apparently a deciding factor for the state’s voters.

King blew the debate’s first question to Gingrich on his alleged “open marriage” proposal by not approaching it aptly, and worse, just stood there while Gingrich assaulted “the media” as the slavering audience cheered.

King should have noted Gingrich’s ironic comment on negativity, as Gingrich himself was, and is negative, and that he has benefitted from the media. He should have said the question goes to character, and the citizenry have a right to know the caliber of the people who seek the presidency.

He should have observed that in attacking the media, it seemed Gingrich was trying to bury the issue, and then he should have asked what else he was hiding from the people.

If there is one person who can be seen as creating the divisive climate of our politics, it is Gingrich.

— Tim Walsh, Seattle

We need a candidate who can lead our country back to greatness

It has become a little bit frightening watching the Republican presidential campaign unfold. I have never seen a group of applicants so unqualified for the job they were seeking.

I realize the condition this country is in has created a lot of resentment, sadness and fear in the American public, but we cannot allow our emotions to cloud our judgment in this matter.

The ideal candidate for president is not the one who picks out the most mistakes that President Obama has made or the one who spews out the most hard-lined rhetoric.

The ideal candidate is the one who can lead this country back to greatness. To be a leader you have to command respect, you need to possess some integrity and sense of honor and you have to be able to be firm yet willing to compromise in the right situation.

Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich have not shown a single one of these qualities. They are both fringe candidates who got into the position they are in because of the absence of any credible competition.

When election time comes, please vote for the most qualified candidate, not the one who happened to play on your emotions the best.

— Shane Turner, Bothell