Harris proves to be a wise co-opter
About the Chicago Tribune editorial appearing in Thursday’s edition of the Times Free Press on the Free Press opinion page that mentions “pandering to voters:” This smacks of childishness that someone should claim a campaign policy (such as service workers tips should be non-taxable) as the exclusive property of a single political party, and call anyone from the other party who advances the idea a copycat.
If Vice President Harris is wise, she will double-down on this approach: Come up with a viable plan to secure the border and present an immigration policy that is simple, fair and workable. Take this wind from her adversaries’ sails. I believe the phrase once used was “co-opt their agenda.”
Sean Caulfield
Let’s get back to Fairness Doctrine
There’s been a change in dress for female news commentators, which gives the news more significance than the style or color of their clothes. Now we see women in serious suit jackets of similar design, which keeps the focus on news presentation. This is a good step in the direction of accepting women for qualities other than their appearance, their plastic surgeons or how low their neckline is. Of course, the next challenge would be to view the accuracy and the truthfulness of the news with equal care.
Could we also go back to the Fairness Doctrine, established in 1949 and dumped in 1987 by the FCC, which believed, oddly, that broadcast license holders would continue to present controversial issues significant to the public in a way that fairly reflected different points of view? It’s winsome to think that stations would willingly police themselves in the interest of fair reporting, but that was too much to ask of our capitalistic, profit-driven, sensationalistic 24/7 media.
Sometimes there were dull news programs, but we also suffer through State of the Union addresses.
Helen Barrett
Use of ‘communist’ just a scare tactic
Trump calling Kamala Harris a communist is a scare tactic used successfully by Florida Republicans. Many Latin Americans have personal memories or family histories of political persecution by communist and socialist governments.
Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill that requires communism and socialism to be taught in public schools — continuing the ongoing campaign to attract Latinos to the Republican Party.
Mike Rado
Non-combat role doesn’t lower status
I am offended by JD Vance’s suggestion that Tim Walz wasn’t a real soldier because he didn’t have combat experience. Google says Vance was “a combat correspondent in a non-combatant role, including a six-month deployment in the public affairs department in Iraq.”
Since Vance also lacks combat experience, does that mean he wasn’t a real Marine?
In 1967 when I joined the Army, you served at the discretion of the military. I was stationed at Bien Hoa, Vietnam. In those days there were 10 support troops for every combat soldier. I, and the rest of the support guys, didn’t fire a weapon in combat, but we sat in a foxhole on the berm at night and experienced mortar and rocket attacks.
I have great respect for those guys who were in combat. They gave much and suffered terribly. But all of us served. That service is what is important, regardless of the role. Vance’s military service was not in any way superior to Walz’s. It is offensive for Vance to imply that it was.
I’m sure the families of the servicemen just recently injured in Iraq would take exception to Vance’s statement.
James Garrett
Trion, Georgia