Letters to the Editor

Democratic matters

Superdelegates, put on your capes and fly Hillary home

Editor, The Times:

Despite having no chance at being the Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Rodham Clinton refuses to do what is best for the party and gracefully bow out of the race. She is hurting her once-good reputation, and worse, the Democratic Party. The only thing that will stop her is for Barack Obama to clinch the nomination.

The only way Obama can do that before the Democratic Convention in August is with the help of Democratic Party officials. They must work out a compromise in Michigan and Florida — Clinton's last shred of hope. Then, the superdelegates must come out in favor of Obama. Right now, they are doing that, but slowly.

I propose that on May 31, the day the DNC rules committee is to meet, it comes out for Obama, all at once. Superdelegates, if you really want what is best for the party, you must endorse Obama. It is the only way we can achieve party unity.

— Joel Thompson, Seattle

Obama can mention

Lincoln, but can he lead like him?

In response to a query about his choice of running mate, Barack Obama made reference to Doris Kearns Goodwin's book, "Team of Rivals." My group of Seattle University doctoral students recently discussed the book, which is about President Lincoln and his Civil War Cabinet, composed mainly of his rivals for the presidency. This book reminded us why Lincoln was a great leader.

Lincoln was a man of diverse talents and skills. He was physically strong and resilient, and extremely disciplined. He had no schooling, no patrons and no mentors, yet was a brilliant writer and thinker.

Equally important, he possessed "emotional intelligence." He understood the motivations of others. Even when he saw their flaws, he appreciated their virtues, and his leadership was directed toward minimizing flaws and accentuating strengths. He believed in the "Golden Rule," and was kind and interested in doing the "right thing." The fact that he behaved honorably on many occasions led to his nomination for president over more famous politicians who had made more enemies.

Many are wondering whether Obama has the capacity to become a great leader, and, if given the chance, will he become one. Lincoln's career is a yardstick for comparison.

— Mark Pomerantz, Seattle

Bittersweet symphony

The hills are alive with the sound of hooey

I read the recent article regarding MXGP's arduous attempts to satisfy the county at every step in order to build a motocross park in nearby Granite Falls ["Granite Falls motocross park faces challenges," Times, page one, May 28]. Once again, I am all but disgusted with the media and its "unbiased" slant on everything they print.

Reporter Sara Jean Green builds her story like this piece of property is a woodland paradise, regularly used by nature lovers from all over the Northwest. Not once does she mention that it is "nestled" between two working gravel quarries — but there is a mention of the "sounds of songbirds" filling the air.

I've been on the property, and the only thing I could hear was crushing equipment and trucks loading gravel. And she certainly didn't mention all of the garbage that the locals seem to enjoy dumping in the little clearing, either.

— Aaron Bailey, Marysville

Freedom of speech

Talk is cheap, but state can't impose fines

Human Life of Washington has filed a federal lawsuit to protect its First Amendment right to freely talk about the issue of assisted suicide. HLW wants to do its issue advocacy without being subjected to political action committee (PAC) burdens. Federal law is clear that PAC burdens may not be imposed in this context. HLW simply wants Washington to obey the law. That is not a "disingenuous argument," as The Seattle Times asserted in its editorial ["Full disclosure," May 21].

This is not new law. It has been clear since at least 1976, when the Supreme Court decided Buckley v. Valeo, that issue advocacy is constitutionally protected and PAC burdens may not be imposed for doing it. From Buckley, it is also clear that Washington may not use the sort of vague statutory terms it uses to trigger PAC status.

In 2007, the Supreme Court reaffirmed, in FEC v. Wisconsin Right to Life, that the First Amendment specially protects issue advocacy. Also last year, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals held that California could not impose PAC status on a group like HLW in its ballot-initiative context. If California may not, neither may Washington. There's nothing "disingenuous" about that.

Citizen groups are normally free to advocate their issues — from abortion, to the environment, to the war — without state interference. That's called freedom of association and speech. If some other group launches a ballot initiative on one of those issues, that doesn't alter First Amendment protection. Only when there is express advocacy for or against the initiative may the state impose minimal disclosure.

HLW just wants to talk about assisted suicide, and the state can't impose disclosure on that. And Washington can never impose PAC burdens in this context. There's nothing "disingenuous" about the First Amendment or the need for Washington to obey the law.

— Dan Kennedy, CEO, Human Life of Washington, Bellevue

Slick matters

Single shot of gas has a venti price tag

Who would have thought that the product once known as a "yuppie" luxury now is just as cheap, if not cheaper, than a gallon of gasoline? A Seattle-area Starbucks currently sells a venti mocha for $4.05 — including tax.

The average price of a gallon of gasoline in the Seattle area is $4.03. By tomorrow, the price of fuel will likely eclipse what once was considered a luxury and waste of hard-earned money.

Would you like a pastry with that unleaded?

— Stephen Duarte, Houston

Slow down and consider this idea

A way to reduce our reliance on oil and increase highway safety would be to reduce the speed limit nationally to 55 mph. Automotive experts agree that a reduction of speed from 70 mph to 55 mph results in a significant increase in gas mileage.

Moreover, lower speeds reduce the number of highway fatalities, as well as the amount of carbon released into the environment.

What is the cost of reducing the speed limit? Changing signage? It will cost us a few extra minutes in getting from one place to another.

Let's adopt an easy and practical way to save our precious oil resources by using less of it. This must certainly be a bad idea for the oil companies.

— Ken Shimomura, Seattle