Dim Bulb: Tim Carney Re: “Obama campaign taps wealthy for big bucks,” July 13
To borrow the style of one of your own regular features, I hand out a Dim Bulb.
WHO: Examiner senior political columnist Timothy Carney.
WHAT: In his article talking about how Obama’s campaign was using misleading numbers to claim that their donor base consisted almost solely of people giving $250 or less, he claimed the figure could be gamed thusly: “First, a donor could cut 12 $250 checks to contribute the $5,000 maximum to the campaign.”
WHY IT’S DIM: 12 times 250 equals three thousand, not five thousand.
CURE: A summer school session of fourth-grade math should do the trick.
Andy Goss
Fairfax
Brown settling political scores with Metro Board
Re: “Shake-up puts two new D.C. reps on Metro Board,” July 12
After removing Tommy Wells from the transportation committee and Metro Board, Kwame Brown has found himself under fire for what appears to be no more than petty political payback for Wells calling the chairman out over the sport utility vehicle scandal.
Brown has wasted no time in denying his decision was politically motivated, yet has given no other reasonable explanation for stripping the effective Wells of a committee he has proved such an asset to. He claims Wells is a friend and, as such, his reassignment shouldn’t be so scrutinized, but friend or not, the two have repeatedly clashed politically. Until Brown can stop crying foul about these accusations and actually offer some sound reasoning for such an unneeded, illogical switch, what other conclusion can be made?
This move doesn’t just have ramifications for the District, but for the entire region. As a Northern Virginian who depends on the Metro, it’s clear to see the importance knowledgeable leaders in transportation have and Wells has proved himself a valuable one. Brown’s decision only serves to further set the city back as an ill-suited council member takes over a post most appropriate for Wells because Brown had a political score to settle.
Jessica Taylor
Alexandria
Government shouldn’t tax essential needs
Re: “Md. lawmakers eye new taxes on snacks, online sales, medicine,” July 11
The headline suggesting that Maryland lawmakers might be open to taxing currently exempted products – such as medicine — frightened me. Government should tax those things which are unwanted (e.g. tobacco, alcohol, etc.) and provide incentives for things which it does want (homeownership, business ownership). How hypocritical it would be to tax something as essential and life-saving as medicine. As a physician, my sincere hope is that as the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee considers ways to generate revenue that they leave their hands off my patient’s pill bottles.
Cedric Dark, M.D., M.P.H.
Beltsville
