DEAR EDITOR:
This is in direct response to Alfred Spencer's recent letter titled "Sadly, race is a factor in politics." Spencer's letter was in response to another reader's comments concerning a letter Spencer had written previously. Blair Thomas wrote that opposition to Obama and his regime is not race related. Spencer was perturbed that since Thomas cited some tea party beliefs in his article, that made those comments racist.
First of all a racist is defined by Webster as a person who believes one race is superior to another, and racism as the practice of racial discrimination. These terms have been used a lot in the last four years, most times inappropriately by liberals and the liberal media when trying to make a point that has no other merit other than for their political gain. It's wrong to do that and serves no useful purpose. All it does is divide the races even further. Racism does indeed exist on some level in this country. It always has and always will, and it comes from all sides. But not to the extent that Spencer refers to, especially in regard to the tea party. After all, if not for the white vote, Obama does not get elected in 2008.
If Spencer or anyone else feels the tea party is racist, one would only need to read its preamble. It states it is an all-inclusive movement with the belief that everyone is created equal. And that they may pursue life, liberty and happiness as stated in the Declaration of Independence and guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. There is absolutely nothing there of a racist nature.
The tea party movement was founded because its members and followers were unhappy with both political parties. They want to eliminate excessive taxes, the national debt and deficit spending. They want to protect our free markets, abide by the constitution and promote civic responsibility. They also want to reduce the overall size of government, believe in the people, avoid the pitfalls of politics and maintain local independence. Again, I see no racism or discrimination in any of these wants and beliefs.
So, Mr. Spencer, I disagree with you when you say opposition to the president is solely because he is black. I wish he and his cabinet would succeed and make progress in getting us out of this monumental mess we are in. But half of the population is unhappy with the way the country is being run. In 3 1/2 years we have seen increases in taxes and the national debt, foreign markets eating our domestic companies alive, government grown to its largest level ever, unemployment at 8 percent, a foreign policy that is less than shaky, no budget passed and our Constitution being trampled on by the way health care reform was passed.
So if our president were red, yellow, black or white and having the failures the Obama regime is having, I'd still be unhappy and still work to have him not re-elected. And there is nothing racist about that whatsoever.
Rod Zeck
Newton Falls