Reasons clear why GOP lost

(A Letter to the Press of Atlantic City, 11/22/08)

Republican politicians and right-wing pundits like Charles Krauthammer, George Will and Jonah Goldberg are frantically trying to assign blame for John McCain's recent loss. It's the economy, the Bush administration, pork-barrel spending, Sarah Palin, etc. They still insist that we are a center-right nation and decry a supposed move toward "socialism." But what we're actually experiencing may be a major shift in demographics.

After promising to unite us and shrink government, President George W. Bush became the most unilateral, big-government president in history. Controlling all three branches of government for six years and then obstructing a Democrat-controlled Congress for two more, Republicans enriched the rich and ignored the needy, the infrastructure, the environment, our worldwide friends and neighbors. Now they can't fathom their losses. It makes one question their ability to think clearly.

Social liberalism and fiscal conservatism are not mutually exclusive, and controlling spending does not preclude helping those less fortunate. Instead of extending tax cuts for the wealthy, most polls show that Americans would rather that money be used for schools, medical care, infrastructure, police and the military, especially our veterans. This is not socialism; it's just using our assets to benefit all citizens.

BETTIE J. REINA
Milmay

Note: Bettie and Nick Reina were long-time friends of Larry and all shared their support of Barack Obama.