Letters to the Editor

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun
The New York Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

Powell Gets Plea To Run Against Clinton


I just read with glee the article about a nascent “Draft Powell for Senate” movement [“Powell Gets Plea To Run Against Clinton in 2006,” Luiza Ch. Savage, Page 1, November 17, 2004].


It would elate not only Republicans, but people of New York who feel that their representative should be someone who reflects their interests, is from the state and can represent them effectively in Washington with the majority party.


I am specifically writing to counter Hank Sheinkopf’s contention that African-Americans would not vote in large numbers for a Republican candidate. With all due respect, he is dead wrong. Colin Powell is of West Indian descent, as well as a Harlem native – both of which are significant factors to the black community in New York City.


In addition, he resigned from the Bush Cabinet and is a known moderate, which counters any arguments regarding his being too conservative to represent New York – he is not Clarence Thomas, or even his son Michael Powell.


He is looked up to by many members of the black community, and as a black woman, I will tell you that if the decision in the voting booth is between Hillary Clinton and Mr. Powell, black folks will pull that lever for Mr. Powell.


It is wrongheaded analyses such as this that created such a “surprise” reaction when John Kerry lost. Let’s not forget that 36% of the black evangelical vote went to President Bush. The black vote has ceased to be monolithic.


LOLITA K. JACKSON
President Metropolitan Republican Club
Manhattan


Debt-Limit Increase


Raising the national debt by $800 billion to a record $8.18 trillion was bad news for taxpayers [“Debt-Limit Increase Sent to Bush,” Alan Fram, National, November 19, 2004].


President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress have failed to control spending and deficits. Mr. Bush has failed to veto the pork-laden spending bills sent to him.



LAWRENCE PENNER
Great Neck, N.Y.


‘Hassan’s Murder’


I agree with The New York Sun’s editorial that the purpose of the terrorist murder of Margaret Hassan – the director of “Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere,” or CARE, in Iraq – was intended to “to impress a radicalized, global Islamist audience of the vulnerability of the West” [“Hassan’s Murder,” November 17, 2004].


But as I watched CNN and other news organizations carry the story, I had to wonder if the correspondents and anchors understood this, or understood the strange reaction of the murder by CARE itself?


The news reports noted that CARE released a statement praising her work and regretting her horrible execution. But there was not a word in the statement condemning the animals that tortured and killed Hassan. Not a single word demanding that these animals halt their barbarism, and either participate in the new democracy or get out of Iraq.


I thought, what is wrong with these people? Their beloved and selfless friend and colleague was senselessly murdered in cold blood. How could CARE merely express sorrow for the killing of Hassan, but make no mention of her murderers and their ideology of hate and intolerance? I’ll tell you how. Because CARE is a humanitarian nongovernmental organization like most others: Composed of liberal pacifists who take the irresponsible, dilettante position of condemning all use of force – even the use of force that pun ishes Islamo-fascist killers, torturers, and rapists. And thus they feel that condemning the killers would make it appear that CARE supports the American effort to establish democracy in Iraq, which necessarily requires the use of force, which the killing of Hassan clearly demonstrates.



GARY KRASNER
Coalition For Informed Choice
Hollis, N.Y.


New York Loses Its Grip


Tina Brown’s arrogance is breathtaking in its scope [“New York Loses Its Grip as a Political Hotspot,” On the Town, November 18, 2004, and every other column that she has written within living memory].


Ms. Brown’s core problem is that she believes that “New Yorkers” constitute a group exclusively populated by those within her limited social circle. As a result, hers is an insulated worldview that has no relevance beyond that exclusive circle.


To read her is a sociological adventure akin to viewing a zoo or museum exhibit.



STUART KAUFMAN
Great Neck, N.Y.



Please address letters intended for publication to the Editor of The New York Sun. Letters may be sent by e-mail to editor@nysun.com, facsimile to 212-608-7348, or post to 105 Chambers Street, New York City 10007. Please include a return address and daytime telephone number. Letters may be edited.

The New York Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.


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