Letter: Look beyond 9/11 smokescreen to see failures

Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004 | 9:44 a.m.

In Mike Smith's Sept. 5 cartoon, an interviewer is depicted asking George W. Bush about the economy, environment, health care and other issues. The reply from the president to each question is a redundant "9/11." The cartoon is satirical of course, but the message is, unfortunately, true.

The Republican media machine has successfully disguised important political issues under the veil of the 9/11 tragedy. In addition, Bush has been anointed with "hero" status.

I, however, presently fear my own government more than terrorism. I believe that any citizen reading this paper today could have accomplished anything that Bush might have done. Comforting workers and victim's families, rallying a stunned nation and attacking al-Qaida in Afghanistan were obvious duties of any citizen holding the presidential office.

This "hero" has mired our nation indefinitely in a war that has intensified world unrest and the threat of terrorism. On Election Day, I would ask voters to please look through this orchestrated smokescreen of pseudo-heroism that is accompanied with highly publicized tactics promoting fear. Look at the serious mistakes of an intolerant and divisive administration stripped of its 9/11 photo-op.

Elect Kerry/Edwards and any Democratic candidate with the courage to stand up to the failing policies of the Republican right wing, which is stealing our freedoms and reducing our quality of life.

CHARLES W. MCCULLOUGH