Obama far from a liberal
Regarding the Free Press editorial (Dec. 4) bemoaning the fact that the national media don’t widely describe President Obama as a liberal.
Well, there’s a good reason for that. He’s far from a liberal. Dennis Kucinich is a liberal. President Obama is no Dennis Kucinich.
If Obama were liberal, he would have pounded the table for nationalized health care.
You always refer to “ObamaCare socialized medicine,” but the Affordable Care Act is anything but socialized, leaving all the insurance in the hands of private industry.
If Obama were liberal, he would have followed through on shutting down Gitmo, he wouldn’t be talking about reduced benefits for Social Security and Medicare, he would have pulled all our troops out of Afghanistan, and he’d be a strong supporter of gay marriage.
He would also be pushing for much higher marginal income tax rates — it wasn’t that long ago that the top marginal rate was 70 percent. Today it’s about 35 percent.
In the eyes of conservatives, if you aren’t conservative you are by definition a liberal. You know, the “you’re either with us or against us” mindset. If you’re not Fox News, you’re part of the so-called “liberal” media.
BRIAN HAMILTON
Grieve deeply and live fully
I was deeply touched to read “Never to know you” and “Parents urged to remember” (Dec. 4) in context of my own experience of losing a pre-born child and working as a counselor with those whose babies have died from abortion.
For those reminded of their own pregnancy losses through abortion I want to affirm that your grief is real and your child is worthy to be remembered. For years I kept my secret, emotionally paralyzed by guilt and shame. Many of us live in denial and cope, sometimes in destructive ways. The results of which may lead to fearfulness, depression, anxiety or stress. This denial may interfere with the “normal” stages of grief. As one who has also grieved, my encouragement to you is to seek one whom you trust, such as a close friend, counselor, or clergy member to share your story with. Grieve deeply and live fully. The National Memorial for the Unborn in Chattanooga is a place of healing for parents of aborted babies much like Erlanger’s Never Forgotten office is for parents of stillborns or miscarried babies.
Thank you to Laura Apyan and others who remind us of the preciousness of pre-born life.
JUDY HERMAN
Flintstone, Ga.