The GOP gleefully degraded community service

Although I expect the presidential conventions of both parties to be filled with bloated rhetoric, political pandering and immature attacks on the opposition, one particular jab angered me during Wednesday night's Republican National Convention. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and current Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin ridiculed Barack Obama's past as a community organizer.

Both speakers sneeringly scoffed at Sen. Obama's time serving the disadvantaged in the poor neighborhoods of Chicago. Gov. Palin even went so far as to dismiss community service as not having "actual responsibilities." Ironically, as the crowd ate it up, a lot of delegates could also be seen waving "Country First" signs.

If the theme of John McCain's campaign is putting the greater good before one's self, why are they attacking Barack Obama for having done the same? After graduating from Harvard Law School, Mr. Obama turned down lucrative job opportunities and returned to Chicago to work in the community. That doesn't sound like someone putting his self-interests first, does it?

Mr. Giuliani and Mrs. Palin owe an apology to Barack Obama and the hundreds of thousands of other Americans who work and volunteer their time for their communities. And the next time I hear a Republican accusing the Democrats of being elitists, I'll be sure to remember these condescending remarks.

PATRICK ELDER
North Side

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Ignorant of history

On Wednesday night at the Republic National Convention, Sarah Palin introduced herself to the country and, while doing so, mocked Barack Obama for being a community organizer. Politics aside, this demonstrates a lack of knowledge of both American politics and history.

Community organizers have been at the forefront of some of the most important change in our history such as the abolition of slavery, women's suffrage and ensuring the franchise for African Americans during the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King Jr. was a community organizer.

In our own community, organizers and activists put food on the tables of the poor, advocate for those facing foreclosure, defend the rights of workers and make sure that ordinary people share in economic development. Our vibrant nonprofit sector provides services for those who need help when our government can't or won't.

Community organizers often assume responsibility for the poor, hungry, marginalized and sick when no one else will. I think this puts Barack Obama in good company.

AMY A. LANGHAM
Fineview

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The 3 a.m. crisis

Of the four candidates, Barack Obama is the least qualified. When the phone rings at 3 in the morning, it rings in the president's room, not the vice president's room.

Remember, the governor is the one who gets the call when disaster hits a state, not the junior senator of that state.

R. KRAMER
Bethel Park

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Her poor judgment

It's 2 a.m. The vice president's phone rings. Sarah Palin's husband is away on a fishing expedition and she is sitting with her Down syndrome infant. Does she answer?

The Aug. 31 front-page photo of Mrs. Palin's daughter Willow carrying the infant while Mom worked the crowd struck a nerve. Where was Dad?

I believe that when you make the choice to be a parent, with that choice comes the responsibility to raise your children. Who is Mrs. Palin's nanny? Is Dad OK with being "Mr. Mom"?

Many women have already made the difficult choice to leave high-stress, time-consuming work to care for children. I think it shows poor judgment to take on the task of a job as monumental as the vice presidency of the United States with an infant at home who needs urgent care. The GOP has a lot of 'splainin' to do.

LORRAINE D. TURNER
Churchill

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A private matter

I continue to wonder why I get surprised at the reporting done by the network media.

There is no doubt that fairness and accuracy have been completely disregarded concerning the story of Bristol Palin's pregnancy. Gov. Sarah Palin is the candidate for vice president, not her 17-year-old daughter. It is obvious that the Obama/Biden supporters have become desperate to find and report on something as an attempt to smear Gov. Palin's reputation. Since they can't criticize her policies or her previous record, they take the low road and "go after" her young daughter.

If the media are going to continue reporting on the actions of the daughter of a vice presidential candidate, then perhaps they should also remind the public of the actions of President Clinton, not only while he was in office but what he did in the Oval Office.

Certainly the Palin family is not perfect; just like every other family they too have something personal to deal with. I commend Bristol Palin for choosing to give life to this innocent little baby that is already living and growing inside her.

The children of the president, vice president and the candidates should be off limits and their privacy should be respected.

Mrs. Palin is a reformer and she has more executive experience than Barack Obama. Let's give her a chance to show this to the public without unfair and inaccurate reporting by the media.

LORI DOWNEY
Turtle Creek

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Why the photo op?

If Gov. Sarah Palin wants to keep her 17-year-old daughter's pregnancy a private matter, then perhaps she should spare us the photo op of the daughter and her boyfriend, the baby's father, welcoming John McCain to Minneapolis. You can't have it both ways, Mrs. Palin.

NANCY TASHMAN
Mt. Lebanon

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Privacy hypocrisy

The Republicans are telling us that the pregnancy of Sarah Palin's 17-year-old unmarried daughter is a private matter. Dick Cheney told us that the relationship between his lesbian daughter and another woman and the birth of their child was a private matter.

I find it interesting that this request for privacy comes from the party that attempts to control the decisions of American families when they are faced with the same types of family issues. Hypocrisy? You betcha!

DEBBY RAMPOLLA
Whitehall

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