LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — That’s not quite right

Wait, wait, wait. In a recent editorial, you assured readers that there was indeed voter fraud, but compared apples to oranges. I believe the real voter fraud is requiring voters to present photo identification in order to vote. This places a hardship on those who do not have cars—city dwellers using mass transportation, the elderly, the working poor and minority groups.

However, paying someone to vote for you assumes that the person can vote. Paying someone to vote for you who is disenfranchised would be rather self-defeating, would it not? Please assure readers that there is indeed an effort in our country to control who can and cannot vote, and that there is very little real voter fraud.

I also wish you would carefully screen your letters to the editor. Barack Obama has been referred to in published letters as “the bad-bodyodor guy” and “uppity.” I think most of us know the word that would most likely follow “uppity.”

If this is not racism, I don’t know what is.

I have never seen such disrespect for a president in my lifetime. While there is most assuredly “freedom of the press,” I do believe you could cut the letters that incite racism.

SHARON WILLIAMS Little Rock

No limit on kneejerk?

Re the recent editorial on voter fraud: Is there any limit to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s right-wing kneejerk editorial page?

Aside from the fact that cashing a check or getting a library card are not constitutionally guaranteed rights—as voting is—there is this simple question: How would such a law have prevented the sleazy (and unsuccessful) attempt at vote-buying cited as justification for a law which would disenfranchise thousands of (mostly Democratic) Arkansans?

DAVID SIPPEL Bella Vista

Living up to position

Wanted: Beautiful state located in the heart of the Ozarks looking for qualified head football coach to lead promising college team that has fallen on hard times.

Coach must have ability to identify players that fumble, drop passes or give up on their job, take them out of the game, and put in the players who are willing to go out and give it their all, even if third- or fourth-string guys. Coach should have ability to engage fans and make them understand that we are all in this together and, even in an ugly defeat, should be supported by fans who stay in their seats at the stadium and go through it along with the players.

And, by all means, the candidate for head coach should always live up to the position of head coach on and off the field—Jon Gruden, anybody?

WES MILLER

Cabot

An end to democracy

It is alarmingly clear to me how radical the Republican Party has become.

For example, the statement Mitt Romney made at a political moneyraising event that he thinks 47 percent of U.S. citizens are not responsible people and that he is writing them off as just victims who will vote for the president no matter what. This is very revealing as to the disdain apparently felt by many in the GOP toward those who are living on Social Security and who depend on Medicare, as well as those who are not fortunate to have been born to wealth and privilege.

A Republican congressman from Florida, in defense of Romney on Fox News, quoted Alexis de Tocqueville, essentially saying that a democracy like the U.S. is destined to become a dictatorship because the people will always vote to enrich themselves from the treasury and thus bankrupt the country.

So, given that several Republicandominated state legislatures across the country have recently voted to institute very discriminatory voter-ID laws that will make it very difficult, if not impossible, for many of the “47 percent” to cast a ballot, are we to understand that the “party of Lincoln” sees democracy as a dangerous institution that needs to be ended?

J.W. DILLREE

Hot Springs Village

Team needs support

Leadership by example: We, as Arkansans and Razorback fans and supporters, also have a job to do. We cannot allow our feelings to filter to our young men that are playing for the University of Arkansas football team.

I am a lifetime fan of the Hogs and know the phrase “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” all too well. I am bothered by the fans that continue to look to the past, wear out the “what ifs” and not support and lead by example. If we give up, it is no wonder that the team feels that same level of defeat.

Our leadership, through Jeff Long and his staff, is tasked daily with difficult decisions. What a testament of integrity they chose in terminating Bobby Petrino and doing the right thing. Who is to say that if he were still in the saddle that we would not have some of the same issues?

We cannot look back, only move on. I am proud of our leadership, I am proud to wear red and I am proud of our young men who are pouring their hearts and souls into daily practices and coming out with the desire to win. Do I want to see more wins than losses? Absolutely—but as a fan, my passion is to support the UA and the sports programs—all of them—and more importantly, those who work hard every week to give us something to cheer about and love.

No fair-weather fans in my corner, rain or shine, win or lose. Lead by example: Support these young people and show them that we will be there for them. Go Hogs!

DEBBY EUBANKS FURRY

Fayetteville

Who’s dummy here?

This election is sounding like something from back in the era of Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. Mitt Romney is Edgar and Paul Ryan is Charlie McCarthy, who really doesn’t know what to say except to agree with Edgar, who can’t remember what he said yesterday and switches back and forth.

The scary thing, Ryan will be only a heartbeat from being president if they are elected.

WILLIAM R. SHELHART

Van Buren

A fool would say that

The fool has said in his heart that there is no God.

It appears that that describes about half of the delegates to the Democratic convention.

DON JONES

Bryant