Clinton isn't good choice for presidency, either
I keep hearing that Barack Obama is not a good choice for the presidency. Well, guess what? Neither is Hillary Clinton. I'm all for some new blood in the White House, make no mistake, but Hillary is not a good choice.
For starters, she is trying to get rid of FAFSA, a program that provides grants to low-income individuals in order to go to college. That program is the reason why I was able to get through college. I'm in my last semester right now, and I'm thinking of attending Marshall University afterwards. But with the talk about getting rid of FAFSA, I'd say my plan is scrapped for the moment.
Two, she may go on and on about being a hero to the labor unions, even though she once sat on the board of Wal-Mart and other corporate boards.
Three, Hillary is a staunch supporter of censorship in video games. I wonder if she secretly plays the ultra-violent ones.
Bottom line: I personally think both candidates are just making the Democratic Party look bad instead of good. If you're going to have a candidate who represents your political party, the least you can do is keep it proper. That will allow you to save face and maybe meet your goal. Practice what you preach, and your credibility will go unquestioned.
Stephen Baker
Kenova
Obama takes stand while McCain waffles
I find it laughable that the press condemns Barack Obama for his affiliation with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. At least he was candidate enough to condemn the things the reverend said that he did not believe in. However, John McCain called Pat Robertson and John Hagee agents of intolerance just four years ago and then begs them for endorsements this campaign. Remember, those idiots said America deserved 9/11 because of gays and failure to follow the Bible's precepts. Sound familiar? Or just stupid enough to ignore when you're afraid of true change?
Courtenay Craig
Huntington
Obama is leader we need in White House
A great leader is someone who has good policies and ideas but who also can communicate with and inspire the people. Barack Obama is such a leader. He is calling all of us to come together and to take responsibility for ourselves, our country and each other. We are all in this together. His opponents, who are comfortable with the status quo, are using the tried-and-true tactics of lies, distortions and distractions to try to smear him.
Don't be fooled by this. Not this time. This election is too important. Get the facts, learn the truth and make your decision. Try going to barackobama.com, listen to him on C-Span or cnnlive.com, read his books and make up your own mind. You will understand why those of us who really know him are such avid supporters of his campaign.
Jerry Coleman
Huntington
Clinton deserves blame for our current wars
The diehard Democrats who refuse to concede that George Bush won the election to be president -- not once but twice -- are trying to label the war in Iraq as Bush's War. They couldn't beat him, they never have supported him and they keep trying to undermine him. I for one am proud of the job he has done and am glad that the country has not had to depend on Clinton, Gore or Kerry to be in control. Bush as the president of the United States had no choice but to go into Afghanistan.
Clinton not only failed to eliminate Islamic terrorist staging areas in Bosnia in 1997, he ask for and obtained Teheran's help in supplying the Muslim army with weapons in 1997. This was done in violation of the arms embargo initially demanded by the United States and behind the back of its European allies. The CIA and departments of State and Defense were kept in the dark until after the decision was made. Clinton aided and abetted al-Qaida operations in the Balkans.
Clinton was busy with Monica and failed to handle the terrorist problems that led to the attack on the World Trade Center and the wars with Afghanistan and Iraq.
Credit should be given where credit is due. The war should be labeled the Democrats' and Clinton's War -- the same Democrats who now refuse to fund the war.
Jack W. Cundiff
Proctorville, Ohio
McCain can't make up his mind on top issues
What is going on with John McCain? The man is seeking to become the next president of the most powerful country on earth, and he can't seem to understand that the country of Iran is a Shiite nation and that makes it difficult to accept that Iran would support al-Qaida in Iraq, since al-Qaida is a Sunni group. He has gotten it wrong on at least five occasions, and that is five too many for someone who wants to be president.
In addition, he has claimed in an interview that the power of Muqtada al-Sadr, a Shiite militia leader, is not as strong as it used to be. He then reversed himself. In addition, before the war started, McCain said that the war would be "fairly easy." Now he denies that he or anyone else used the word "easy" to describe the war. Seems like McCain is a flip-flopper as much or maybe even more than John Kerry was in the 2004 election.
Seems to me that someone had better enlighten him quickly as to how ridiculous these particular ideas are and tell him to stop making these stupid gaffes.
Melba Melton
Nitro, W.Va.
A few reasons to vote for Obama for president
Contrary to his critics, Sen. Barack Obama has been very specific. One, he opposed the war from the first, like Sen. Robert C. Byrd, a very courageous act since both were running for the Senate and risked being attacked as unpatriotic. Two, he is a constitutional lawyer and would fight to restore our constitutional rights, which Bush has subverted. Three, he's for abolition of nuclear weapons, which Sen. Nunn, Henry Kissinger, former secretaries of defense Perry and Scleshinger now propose.
Four, he refuses lobbyists' money (note the unempowered people of West Virginia opposed overloaded coal trucks, but the lobbyist-funded Legislature did the coal lobbyists' bidding and raised the rate limits to make coal overloads legal). Obama would owe nothing to the lobbyists. Five, he agrees with former Vice President Al Gore's concern over global warming. Six, he will achieve universal health care. Will Hillary Clinton, when the insurance and pharmaceutical companies gave her more money than any other candidate (See the film "Sicko")?
For these specific reasons alone, Obama should be elected president.
Nancy B. Taylor
Huntington
Clinton has the right plan for education
There are so many reasons I support Hillary Clinton for president.
As a schoolteacher's daughter, a student and mother of a student at Marshall University, Hillary's stance on education affects me directly. Every semester for seven years, college fees increased. Like Hillary, I come from a middle-class background and depend on student loans to finance my education. I will graduate thousands of dollars in debt, though my education at MU has been invaluable.
Clinton understands the importance of education -- in math, science, languages -- to be globally competitive. Domestically, we need to increase our base of skilled workers. To ensure this, we must increase access to educational opportunities for American families.
As president, Clinton will maximize Pell grants, create tax credits to offset nearly half of annual college costs, simplify financial aid applications, offer scholarships for AmeriCorps participation and student-loan forgiveness for public service such as teaching. She has thoroughly prepared solutions to America's educational needs, which are detailed at her Web site.
I stand for Hillary because she will deliver results for all Americans. She says: "When it comes to higher education, we shouldn't be playing catchup with the world; we should be leading it, because the skills and knowledge of our work force will determine whether America can compete and win in the global economy."
Lora Varney
Huntington
Clinton will work to improve education
As a student and future college professor, I believe this presidential election is significantly important to our schools and our children's future.
America needs an education system that motivates students to achieve their full potential and allows our teachers to teach to the child, not to the test. This country has always been admired for working to give every child an equal chance to thrive. If we are to achieve that goal, we need a president who will strengthen public education and get students and teachers the resources they need to do so.
I respect Hillary Clinton because she has been an advocate for children her entire life. She understands the challenges facing our schools and is committed to breaking down many of the hurdles that too often stand in the way of students' dreams. She will work to put kids on the right track before they even reach kindergarten, making universal pre-K available to every child. She will end the unfunded mandate known as No Child Left Behind and get our schools the resources they need. She will also work to put college education and technical training in the reach of anyone who wants to broaden his or her skills, regardless of age.
I encourage everyone to vote for her in the upcoming primary on May 13th.
Erin Waggoner
Marshall University student
Huntington
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