Letters: Assessing the state of the Obama presidency

TO LETTER-writers Lenise Johnson and Harriet Brown, who replied to my earlier letter:

Lenise, I didn't criticize President Obama. I simple took your criticisms and compared them to the facts.

Since you keep insisting that Obama "inherited this mess," I will tell you again that Democrats had control of Congress the last two years of Bush's administration. We were not on the verge of a Great Depression, but we are heading that way fast. Obama knew the situation when he became president, and he took the job anyway.

Obama is the only president I know who actually threw another president under a bus and all the parrots follow suit with the infamous chant of "It's Bush's fault, it's Bush's fault."

Obama has been president for almost two years and has hurt this country by putting us further in debt. Look at the economy.

Finally, I never said that Obama is a president for all America, not just black America. What I did say was "Obama needs to be the president for all America, not just black America."

To Harriet Brown, I'd like to say that I appreciate your opinion even if said in malice. But I take issue when you called me a racist. Why is it when you don't agree with a black American, such as Obama, out comes the race card? Did I call you a racist when you didn't agree with Bush's policies?

Racism works both ways. We should be able to disagree without being called names. This is what makes America so grand. And as far as being jealous of Obama - oh, please.

Diane McDowell, Philadelphia

I've read the DN editorial section on numerous occasions and wanted to respond but failed to. This time I feel compelled to respond because I'm growing tired of people like Diane McDowell bashing the president.

Please look around you. The mess was made by President Bush when he was in charge. (Where was the Tea Party when Mr. Bush was in office?)

Obama has listened to the public regarding affordable insurance and education, which I guess isn't important to you, just to name a few things he's made good on.

The Republicans ran the country into the ground, and they'll continue to do so with their right-wing agenda if given the chance. Obama isn't perfect, but he's darn near it given the circumstances he stepped into.

In America, race has always been an issue. Look around you. Our president is only trying to clean up the mess that the Republicans created.

Pam Boyer, Philadelphia

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Re Loretta Horton's letter

"Where's the Justice?"

saying that we shouldn't jail minors for life:

Has she read the news story about Kevin Turner, 22, a repeat offender with 13 arrests who escaped from Curran-Fromhold on Oct. 12? He got a gun, cased Glatz Jewelry, decided to rob the store, got into shootout - and both owner and robber were killed.

Horton was talking about rehab for young offenders and trying to help them to stay out of trouble - but what about the parents? Isn't it their job to raise their kids to stay out of trouble? If kids under 18 commit a crime, the parents should be in jail.

Robert F. Schaffer, Philadelphia

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I'm in favor of gays and lesbians having the right to marry and adopt children, but Michael McGonigle (

letters, Nov. 4

) can't be taken seriously if he's comparing those who think differently to violent extremists who stone to death people who disagree with them (including gays and lesbians).

Brian Gillin, Broomall

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I've always enjoyed John Smallwood's columns and the one about Josh Hamilton and fan reaction may be one of the best he's ever written.

I have family members and friends in recovery, and this is a column that helped me think about the struggles they face every day.

Tim Small, Turnersville, N.J.