House Republicans’ partisan chicanery exposed Re: “GOP fends off blame for pending tax hike,” Dec. 22
Let me get this straight: The House of Representatives voted 229-198 against the Senate bill, which was passed 89-10, before House Speaker John Boehner stated: “Our negotiators are here, ready and able to work.”
Negotiate on what? Most polls agree that a significant majority of the American people are in favor of extending the payroll tax cut as well as extending unemployment benefits. What part of this does the speaker not get?
Once again, the Republicans’ chicanery has been exposed. Rep. Boehner and his Republican colleagues will be in for a rude awakening once the American people discover that they have once again been misrepresented by zealots who have consistently refused to follow their will during this congressional session.
At the end of the day, the grown-ups will prevail and the extensions will be granted. However, in the interim we are spectators to House Republicans making a mockery of our government. Senate Republicans, the time has come for you to take control because Speaker Boehner abdicated many months ago.
Marvin E. Adams
Washington
Independence will be blessing for faith-based groups
Re: “Faith-based groups face hard lessons about federal strings,” Editorial, Dec. 21
It’s not the job of the government to fund nonprofit hospitals, social service agencies, etc. They need to get their financial support from the private sector.
Forcing them to become independent will do them good.
Sharon Kass
Silver Spring
Don’t lump all of us men together
Re: “Examiner’s emphasis on ‘victory’ misplaced,” From Readers, Dec. 20
In her simplistic and somewhat sexist letter, Virginia Fenner would have us believe the old notion that if women ran things, there would be “dialogue” instead of war. The conventional wisdom is that men are confrontational and all about winning, while women are the consensus-makers.
I’ve heard this notion before. The women who lecture me about being peacemakers are invariably the same ones who use their feminine charms to get their way by kicking up a fuss and making it clear that if you disagree, the fight will be your fault. Men give in to them repeatedly because we don’t want a silly argument.
Such women are “peacemakers” in the same way that President Obama is a “unifier.” He’ll unify all of us just as soon as he gets everybody who disagrees with him to shut up.
Fenner also claims that women are against sending their children to war because they learn to respect all life. Fair enough. In about a month, tens of thousands of people will come to Washington for the annual March for Life.I’ll be there, as always, with my sign suggesting that selfish, irresponsible men benefit most from easily available abortion.
Will I see Fenner there, too?
Stephen Kosciesza
Silver Spring
