President Obama’s first stimulus created 1.3 million jobs Re: “Dim Bulb,” Sept. 16
Contrary to your claim that “Obama’s last stimulus plan failed to create [hundreds of thousands] of jobs at such a rate,” the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office opined that the first stimulus helped at least 1.3 million people find or keep work than otherwise would have been the case.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was a good idea. But it’s clear that your recent letter writers are correct: Your desire to attack President Obama’s policies is more important to you than presenting the facts fully and accurately.
The Examiner should print an apology acknowledging the nuances of this issue.
David Smedberg
Washington
Editor’s note: According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the nation’s unemployment rate in August 2011 was 9.1 percent; it was 7.2 percent in December 2008, right before President Obama took office.
Criticizing the president is nothing new
Re: “President Obama deserves the nation’s respect,” From Readers, Sept. 15
Mr. Smithman wants The Washington Examiner to give President Obama more respect? Cry me a river.
President Bush endured nearly eight years of virulent attacks from bitter, angry leftists. The Washington Post and the New York Times were some of the biggest offenders. They were beyond offensive and respectful, and had nothing positive to say about a president who kept this country safe from terrorists.
If Mr. Smithman doesn’t like what he reads in The Examiner, he’s free to patronize other anti-American news outlets. Looks like the shoe is finally on the other foot.
Jenna Simons
Lorton
Smoking is even more harmful in multifamily dwellings
While the judge has dismissed punitive damages in a civil suit pending in Prince George’s County (Schuman v. Popovic) regarding exposure to secondhand smoke in multifamily dwellings, he was not willing to dismiss compensatory damages.
At issue is whether one resident should be able to continue to smoke in his own apartment when that smoke spreads to adjacent units and exposes his neighbors to secondhand smoke.
There is no safe level of secondhand smoke and no practical way to prevent it from spreading from one apartment to adjacent units.
Smoking is not a right protected by law as established in multiple U.S. court cases. Most apartment buildings have prohibitions against loud noise and odors that are considered a nuisance. Surely release of a known toxin should also be prohibited.
Laura Galvin and Bob Radlinski
Bethesda
