Trump thinks racism will help him win: Your say in News-Press Friday, Aug. 2, 2019

The News-Press

Racism and Trump

Racism is like a disease we are working to eradicate, but progress is slow because so many are infected, including our president. 

Democrats play pin the tale.

From the lawsuits against his real estate company for discrimination, to his defense of white supremacists, to his incessant attacks on people of color; from "s---hole countries" to "rat-infested" neighborhoods, Trump has told us time and again he's a racist.

If you believe otherwise, one of two things is true: Either you're a racist yourself and quite comfortable with his bigotry, or you're so caught up in his cult of personality that nothing he says or does troubles your sense of decency or core values. 

Donald Trump entered the political arena because he was so outraged that an African-American would presume to run for president that he launched a fake news campaign to try to disqualify him. As president himself, Trump's only identifiable agenda has been to obliterate the Obama legacy, no matter how many Americans get hurt in the process — hence his determination to repeal "Obamacare" with no plan in place to help the millions who would lose their health insurance.

Trump firmly believes racism is a winning issue for him. Is he right?

Ray Clasen, North Fort Myers

Election security and GOP

In a Thursday letter, a writer complained about the Election Security Act in the House, its content and lack of details available to the public. He closed by criticizing Nancy Pelosi for not having it published in newspapers.

Pelosi doesn’t have the authority to publish anything in newspapers, and more importantly it’s on the internet: “Text: H.R. 5011 – 115th Congress (2017-2018) Election Security Act.”

Mitch McConnell, leader of the Republican-controlled Senate won’t even allow the Senate to vote on this bill. In my view, the Republican lack of interest in this Election Security Act is evidence that at least most Republicans believe the evidence in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s 400-page report and the results of the FBI and CIA investigations regarding Russia’s influence in the 2016 and continuing intrusions in the U.S. election process.

It's not a “witch hunt” and the Republicans' blatant attempt to discredit Mueller during his all-day testimony before the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees did not work, except possibly for those who are personally benefiting from the Trump border-line corrupt administration.

Impeachment by the House would be a huge mistake. The Senate would find Trump not guilty, and he would use it as a campaign issue. 

Martin Harris, Cape Coral

Born in Africa, now a U.S. citizen

I have been very upset by the Republican Party's treatment of Rep. Ilhan Omar.

I too was born in Africa, was brought here as a child and was naturalized at age 17. I am a full citizen who is entitled to vote and participate in this wonderful democracy. I am not a second-class citizen because I am an immigrant, and I will not go back to my country of origin, as has been suggested by those in power. I chose to be an American and I will not vote for those who cruelly disparage immigrants.

Paula Blair, Fort Myers

Rep. Rooney vs. global warming

U.S. Rep. Francis Rooney, R-Fla., has been praised several times in letters to the editor for his co-sponsorship of H.R. 763, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. He is the only Republican out of 59 House members to sponsor this bill.

The bill would enact a fee on carbon emissions and pay each family dividends with the fees collected (minus administrative fees). This pricing of emissions would incentivize emitting companies to seriously develop clean-energy technologies and incentivize consumers to shift to emission-reducing practices.

Rep. Rooney continued his efforts in July, with his introduction, along with Rep. Daniel Lipinski, D-Ill., of two more bills intended to reduce carbon emissions. The Stemming Warming Augmenting Pay (SWAP) Act, H.R. 4058, and the Raise Wages Cut Carbon Act, H.R. 3966, would use most of the money collected to reduce payroll taxes.

The three bills differ in the fee amounts and the consequent projections for emissions reductions over the next decades. But Congressman Rooney’s sponsorship of them speaks volumes about his belief that global warming is real and that we must act to mitigate it. Thank you, Mr. Rooney.

Patricia Duncan, Bonita Springs

Russia's election interference

A letter writer is horrified there is no national outrage about Russia trying to influence the 2016 election. I can think of two reasons.

First, everybody with even a passing knowledge of international relations recognizes sovereign nations have an interest in a transfer of power in another nation and often do what they can to influence that transfer. The USA is no exception. Russia, even going back to the tzars, has been historically active in this regard. So to discover Russia tried to affect our election is akin to realizing the sun rises in the East. New information, but only if you were born yesterday.

The second reason is who was in charge at the time, strangely omitted from the letter. President Obama has admitted he was aware of the attempts and chose to do nothing. So we can't get outraged, since his administration was scandal free, wasn't it?

Michael F. Beal, East Naples