Opinion & Commentary:

Letters to the editor

June 20, 2008

Focus on president's praise

Normally birthdays are a time for celebration. Israel's 60th birthday was no different, with festivities scheduled both in Israel and many other venues around the world, including New Jersey.

President George Bush believed that Israel's birthday was so important that he flew there to give a thoughtful and inspiring speech before the Knesset, praising Israel's friendship with the United States and its unswerving commitment to democracy, freedom, liberty, justice, and respect for human dignity. He spoke about former President Harry Truman's key role in recognizing the state's founding. Mr. Bush supported Israel's right to self defense and its battle against terrorism. He looked forward to an era of peace, tolerance, and liberty in the entire Middle East.

Unfortunately, most of the media failed to report on the full content of the president's speech. Instead, the headlines and stories featured presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Hussein Obama, the junior Senator from Illinois' criticism of one part of the speech concerning the historical danger of appeasement, which the senator thought applied to his own stated views. Similar attacks on the president by the senator's minions were widely disseminated, but the entire speech was ignored.

Shouldn't the media take a brief timeout from the national political battles and report objectively on the current president's praise of the state of Israel? Wouldn't our citizens be better served and educated by having the opportunity to read the president's speech? Perhaps this error will be rectified by printing the speech so the public can have an understanding of President Bush's respect and admiration for Israel and the ties with America's best friend in the Middle East.

Hal R. Crane

Morganville

(Editor's note: the full text of President Bush's speech can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/05/20080515-1.html.)

A vote for Stender

A Democrat is a Republican who got sick. YO-YO economics (You're On Your Own economics) worked for me when I was healthy but not now that I am permanently disabled. I used to be a Republican but now that I have a brain tumor, I worry about my insurance coverage. Will insurance cover my chemotherapy?

Linda Stender, Democrat for Congress, will fight for comprehensive reform to make sure every American has the access to affordable, quality health care they deserve.

I am hoping that stem cell research will help find a cure for my tumor. Linda supports stem cell research, which she believes holds the keys to unlocking the cures for cancer, as well as spinal cord injuries, Alzheimer's, M.S., childhood diabetes, and a whole host of other debilitating diseases and chronic conditions. In Congress, Linda will fight to expand stem cell research and the hope it holds for countless families.

I support Linda Stender Democrat for Congress NJ-7.

Jeff Weinstein, MD

Edison