I am a “vocal veteran,” as Ed McGarvey mentions in his letter (“Vocal veterans have been called to duty,” Aug. 20). I didn’t really understand what he was getting at, but I am not a fan of “swiftboaters.”

Unfortunately, they will be back, just as in 2006. They will attack Rep. John Murtha on his service record and paint Sen. Barack Obama as unpatriotic. They will not look at the record of other candidates, and they mostly will show up from out of state. It was sad the last time and it will be sad this time.

We have someone running against Murtha who isn’t from the 12th district, who has never owned a home here or sent his kids to school here. Yet The Tribune-Democrat looks forward to a debate?

When will the newspaper report that Sen. John McCain, who served the country in war, voted against increases to veterans’ health care in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007? When will other vets recognize he didn’t show up to vote on the Enhanced GI Bill recently passed? He said it would cost too much money. Too much money for veterans during war time?

Murtha voted for these increases and so did Obama, but it seems you don’t hear much about it. I wonder why?

Veterans should not take for granted that Republicans support them. Look at the votes and check the record.

Philip W. Glover

Johnstown



Obama’s ‘change’ means socialism

“I’d pronounce on the need for change. Change in the White House where Ronald Reagan and his minions were carrying on their dirty deeds. Change in the Congress, compliant and corrupt. Change won’t come from the top, I would say. Change will come from a mobilized grass roots. That’s what I’ll do, I’ll organize black folks. At the grass roots for change.” – Barack Obama, “Dreams from My Father.”

In the 1960s, the Young Socialist Alliance, the Black Panthers and the Yippies were demonstrating and chanting for change. By change, these groups mean socialism.

According to the National Review and the Chicago Daily Herald, Obama has ties to ACORN, a radical leftist organization which embraces the socialistic views of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and Michael Pfleger. Two hundred ACORN protesters were arrested as they tried to storm a Chicago City Council session and also disrupted Federal Reserve hearings.

Socialism is usually defined as government ownership and control over the basic means of production and distribution of goods and services.

A prime example was Hillary Clinton’s health-care plan for America. This would have not only annexed a huge chunk of the economy, but also would have destroyed a huge chunk of individual freedom.

When analyzed, this means government control over everything, including you.

While socialist groups were demonstrating in the streets, attacking America’s concepts of Democracy and free enterprise, voters should remember where John McCain was.

Jackie Clark

Westmont



Proud Americans do not discriminate

One of the things I dislike most about returning home after being away is opening The Tribune-Democrat to the editorial page and having to read hateful, closed-minded letters such as Ron Marol’s “Liberals don’t belong in government” (Aug. 21). That small paragraph was, quite honestly, one of the most appalling and ignorant things I’ve ever read, and it truly saddens me when I am reminded that there are still people in this country who think so discriminately.

It is wonderful that Marol’s father taught him to be a proud American, but doesn’t that mean that he should be supporting all our troops?

I also find it interesting that he thinks our country has the luxury of rejecting people based on sexuality at a time when our military is lowering its standards (allowing more people without high school diplomas and more people who have criminal records) just to meet its recruitment goals.

In reality, we should all be very proud of the gay men and women who serve in our armed forces, because they are fighting for a country that so often discriminates against them. Having the will and courage to do that makes them “real men” and “real women” in my eyes, and I’m quite pleased that we might finally have some “liberal trash” in our government who aren’t afraid of equality.

Allison Keilman

Windber



In local media, soccer takes a back seat

Once again our local media (print and TV) have begun reporting on the local high schools’ preparations for the fall sports season – but in a discriminatory fashion.

How so? Would an article/picture/feature on local soccer programs be too much to ask?

The world’s most popular sport has many fans/participants in the local viewing-readership area. These athletes (boys and girls) compete throughout the season by participating in multiple games in any given week. Several local teams have advanced far in interdistrict play.

Who knows, maybe viewership/readership would increase should a few soccer articles slip through the editors’ hands.

Ray Leverknight

Richland Township