Obama’s D.C. base will not desert him
Re: “Will D.C. still show the love for Obama?” July 25
While I normally have no real problems with The Examiner’s take on local issues, I found Harry Jaffe’s July 25 column ridiculous.He is attempting to give the illusion that D.C. residents are somehow so angry and resentful toward President Obama that they may vote against him in November.This is beyond laughable.
Jaffe’s conclusion is supported by a disgruntled cabbie with a birther view of the president’s citizenship, a business owner and a lawyer. We’re supposed to believe these three represent the average D.C. resident when it can easily be called into question whether any of them actually lives in the District.
Next, he blasts Obama’s support of D.C. voting rights in Congress as “wishy-washy,” yet Mitt Romney hasn’t supported them at all.Obama traded D.C.’s right to fund abortions for low-income women, but Romney doesn’t support abortion funding, period.And the bit about Obama barely showing up to D.C. churches and eating at swanky restaurants is nonsense.
Jaffe’s last paragraph is the most ludicrous.He accuses the president of taking D.C. for granted because he’ll win it, yet doesn’t note that Republicans don’t campaign here for the same reason.He’s one of those people who squint their eyes, cross their fingers and hope that Obama’s base rejects him in favor of Romney, whom even many Republicans didn’t want as their nominee less than six months ago.
Steve Howard
Washington
MWAA board just wants to obey the law
Re: “MWAA board still blocks McDonnell appointees,” Local Editorial, July 23
Several errors need to be corrected in The Examiner’s July 23 local editorial.
There was no “fierce resistance” from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to the governor’s action to remove board member Dennis Martire, as the editorial infers.While Mr. Martire did file a lawsuit contesting his removal, the court proceedings to date have not yet settled the question.
The airports authority’s response always has been to follow the law — which, in this case, requires clarification by a court because no current statute addresses the situation.
The board members who continue to serve beyond their terms’ official expiration are doing so in accordance with current laws. In the case of seating newly appointed board members, the airports authority is governed by a compact between the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. While Virginia has passed a bill expanding our board membership, the District of Columbia government has not yet agreed to the changes.The law requires both jurisdictions to approve changes before they can proceed.
The airports authority is eager to comply with the laws as soon as they are clarified.
David Mould
Vice president for communications
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
You missed another lowlight of the week
Re: “10 lowlights of the week,” July 22
I was extremely disappointed to read a mention that someone accused Ann Romney of saying “you people,”but there was nothing mentioned about Rep. Michele Bachmann’s vicious attack on Huma Abedin.
That strikes me as being extremely biased.You should be ashamed.
Al Sperling
Fairfax
