Ryan's marathon claim
remains troubling
Regarding Lane Filler's Sept. 7 column, "At least I remember my marathon time":
Filler is on target when he says that people don't forget their time in their one marathon experience.
Republican vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan's exaggeration about his time is troubling from several aspects.
Nobody's marathon time is an important qualification for public office. Even if you believe it is, exaggerating your time is foolish because it is easily verifiable.
His claim that he misspoke is purely an attempt to cover up his misstatement and only serves to keep his original exaggeration alive. The brave thing to have done would be to apologize and admit his error in judgment.
ALLEN FELD
Margate
Riportella showed need
for medical marijuana
Regarding the passing of Diane Riportella, a truly courageous lady:
She suffered for years from Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. I met her at a medical marijuana seminar where she spoke of the profound relief from her symptoms marijuana gave her and of her difficulty in obtaining it. She worried about being seen as a criminal.
In his last moments as New Jersey governor, Jon Corzine signed the medical marijuana act. In the several years that have passed, Gov. Chris Christie has done little but delay and gut this law.
We know, governor, that you do not want New Jersey to become the next California. But there are so many people who suffer greatly from terrible diseases who could be helped by medical marijuana. After all this time, their suffering becomes a part of your legacy.
DR. DAVID KEINER
Galloway Township
Congress did help Obama,
and we're worse off for it
Regarding the letter, "Obama needs a Congress that will work with him":
In President Barack Obama's first two years, he had majorities in both the Sen-ate and House. He could pass anything he wanted, and did pass his agenda.
Look what his agenda got us. Sky-high unemployment. A record 89 million Americans no longer in the labor force. Average Americans lost 40 percent of their wealth from 2007 to 2010. A 2011 Census report said nearly one out of two Americans is considered low income or below the poverty line. Nearly one in four home mortgages are under water.
Our national debt amounts to about $50,000 for every man woman and child in America. Obama has given us over a third of the $16 trillion debt. Ironically, if the Republicians could have obstructed the president's programs, this country would be in much better shape today.
ROBERT J. VERTOLLI
Vineland
Letter was insulting
to this black voter
I was insulted by the Sept. 9 letter, "Liberals show disrespect for African Americans."
The writer is the one showing disrespect and ignorance. I agree that Democrats take the black vote for granted. Black leaders often express this concern. But we are intelligent enough to know that Democrats are the lesser of two evils when it comes to the concerns of the black community. I am not referring to entitlements, but to equal opportunity.
The writer mentions the Dixiecrats who voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If he did his homework, he would know those Dixiecrats left the Democratic Party because of the passage of that act and are now firmly a part the far-right element of the Republican Party. When it comes to civil-rights, it's always the Republicans who are on the side of continued discrimination against those who are not white, male and straight.
As far as voter suppression, the Aug. 24 editorial, "Voter ID laws/A rallying point," had it right. It mentioned the quote by Pennsylvania House majority leader Mike Turzai, who said in June, "Voter ID, which is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done."
Google Jim Greer, former Florida Republican chairman and "voter suppression." Greer says Republicans met to discuss suppressing the black vote. ID laws are made to disproportionately affect people less likely to vote Republican. And there is absolutely no basis to GOP claims of voter fraud. Voter ID laws are a solution looking for a problem.
EDDIE E. HICKS SR.
Smithville
LoBiondo won't debate
his Democratic challenger
What citizen who respects freedom of speech and democracy can vote for Rep. Frank LoBiondo, R-2nd? He has refused to debate his opponent. LoBiondo has declined to meet Democrat Cassandra Shober in a debate sponsored by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Richard Stockton College.
He sends others off to wars to protect our values and yet doesn't have the courage to debate the issues in public. He is using the power of his office to limit free speech and democracy. His refusal to debate shows disrespect to voters.
MARK LOVETT
Ventnor
