Letters to the Editor

Ad subtracts

Rob McCord didn't merely "overplay" his attack on Tom Wolf, as The Inquirer observed in its editorial endorsing his candidacy ("McCord best of a fine field," May 4). Rather, to use McCord's own words, he failed a "gut check" on basic decency.

McCord by all accounts is trailing badly in his effort to get the Democratic nomination for governor. His attack on Wolf is the last desperate act of a losing campaign.

As The Inquirer's endorsement points out, McCord has lots of good qualities. His willingness to resort to what former Gov. Ed Rendell called "one of the worst" television spots he had ever seen diminishes McCord's candidacy beyond redemption.

Laslo Boyd, Philadelphia, lvboyd@gmail.com

Pots vs. kettle

Exactly who are Ed Rendell and Bob Casey to criticize others on campaign etiquette ("Rendell, Casey rip McCord over ad," May 4)? Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

Mark D. Schwartz, Bryn Mawr

Lifesaving gift

As we look forward to Mother's Day, there is a singularly meaningful way that expectant mothers can show compassion and give hope to people in need: by arranging to donate umbilical cord blood.

Normally disposed of at birth, cord blood can be a lifesaving treatment for patients suffering from devastating blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. The donation process is simple, can be arranged months in advance, does not affect labor or delivery, and is safe for moms and babies.

When cord blood is given to a public bank such as the New Jersey Cord Blood Bank (866-SAVCORD), the gift is listed on the national Be The Match Registry and made available to anyone in need of a transplant.

Sarah Shaffer, copresident, Mason Shaffer Foundation, Lansdowne

True conservative

In 2010 and again in 2012, I wasted my vote, time, and money on Republicans' handpicked progressive liberal in New Jersey's Third Congressional District. On every key promise - repealing Obamacare, stopping spending, reducing debt, protecting borders, creating jobs, and stopping the exploding welfare state - nothing changed. For GOP voters who finally have had enough, the choice this year is Steve Lonegan. He will replace the do-nothing agenda by truly listening to voters and then representing them in Congress as a proven constitutional and fiscal conservative.

Joan Warren, Marlton, jwarren594@verizon.net

Prove the concern

At Wednesday's School Reform Commission meeting, chairman Bill Green must have been kidding himself when he said he values Philadelphia teachers and that demanding major financial concessions from the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers while asking teachers to do more is disgraceful ("Public lashes out at SRC over cuts," May 1). Or was he trying to curry favor with the public at the same time that the city and state are starving the schools?

If the commission wants to signal its support for Philadelphia's committed teachers, it can immediately drop its court petition to alter work rules on seniority, teacher preparation time, and other issues traditionally addressed through collective bargaining.

Sukey Blanc, Philadelphia, sukeyb@gmail.com

Can toke and walk

That one becomes dependent on one substance doesn't mean that everyone will become dependent on all substances ("Hold off on legalizing recreational pot," April 29). For most, a drink after work with a cigar or a toke with a glass of wine is a pleasant break from the stresses of everyday life.

Considering that alcohol is so widely available, columnist Kevin Riordan appears to assume we're all on the verge of alcoholism, and that adding weed will turn us into a society of wild-eyed stoners. The premise is without factual support, given that marijuana has been proven less harmful and addictive than liquor.

Anthony Frascino, Swedesboro, artgardenr@aol.com