Obama will do it

President Obama’s “Compass for America” is set on truth, integrity, personal authenticity and trust. It is a plan for a lasting economy:

INNOVATION: With his rescue of the auto industry, a half million manufacturing jobs were created over 30 months. His goal is to create 1 million manufacturing jobs by 2016 and double American exports. His plan reforms the tax code to create jobs and pay down our deficit.

NATION-BUILDING: With money we will no longer be spending on war, he will put Americans back to work on roads, bridges, runways and schools, using the other half to help pay down the debt.

ENERGY: His plan cuts oil imports in half between 2008 and 2020, lowering imports by 5.5 million barrels per day, bringing it to its lowest level in nearly three decades. Cleaner sources for energy can be invested in by ending subsidies for oil companies, thus creating American jobs and businesses, becoming a global leader in clean energy, improving our ailing environment, and national security.

EDUCATION: By ending subsidies on banks, he used savings to double investments in Pell grants. His goals are to cut growth of college tuition and fees in half over the next 10 years, bring community colleges and businesses together to train 2 million students for actually existing jobs waiting to be filled, and to recruit and prepare 100,000 math and science teachers so we can be competitive in the world of science, technology, engineering and math.

HEALTH CARE: You and I are already benefiting from Obamacare. Insurance companies cannot cancel our coverage, and recommended preventive care is accessible without co-pays or deductibles. Medicare is strengthened for seniors, and young people are helped to get the insurance they need.

Let’s do this!

Mary Carol Nelson

Leavenworth

Porterfield connects

Having had the opportunity to meet and talk with Karen Porterfield while she was visiting Wenatchee several times, to attend her debate with Mr. Reichert, to perusing her website on almost every significant issue, I feel like I have a good understanding of where she stands on the challenges that are facing us today. One of the things that most impressed me is her willingness to listen and ask questions regarding what the people in our new district are concerned about. She really engages with her constituents and consistently draws a parallel to the east/west component of this district, unique to the state, i.e. agriculture, the need for farm workers, immigration etc. Her background in community development, coordinating private/public interests and funding seems a perfect fit for working for us in Congress. She has visited every community in the district and stated recently at a rally in Wenatchee, ”That this is one of the most beautiful districts in the U.S.A. — Mount Rainier to Lake Chelan.” She will help keep it that way!

I truly believe that she will be our voice in Washington, D.C.

Please consider voting for Karen Porterfield.

Teri Schuenemann

Wenatchee

Left to die

Unless you live in a cave, the events regarding the American embassy in Libya are still very fresh in the minds of all Americans. For the president of the United States to ignore the ambassador and his aids’ pleas for military help is absolutely unforgivable.

These people were left in harm’s way and repeatedly asked for assistance by phone and faxes because an attack of terrorists was imminent. They were ignored by everyone in the White House.

A Navy Seal at the scene broadcast an infrared map of the location to drop the bombs on the terrorists. Unfortunately, the enemy homed in on the call for help and knew where the Americans were. The Seal was killed for his life-saving efforts.

All this time the president, vice president, CIA and FBI said they knew nothing of a threat or communications from the embassy. When the president’s limo has a flat it’s worldwide news and 20 people show up to change it in a few minutes. Priorities are so out of touch that four or five people were murdered while the president was in Las Vegas.

With all our technology these people should still be alive. Obama and his henchman should be removed from office in this election. All they care about is running the country no matter what the cost.

Vote Romney/Ryan and get an American back in the White House.

Gary Coffey

Orondo

Don’t redefine marriage

I hope Washington voters will join with 32 other states across this great nation that have already voted to uphold the time-honored tradition of marriage between a man and a woman. No state has voted to redefine marriage. Marriage is a sacred institution that has stood the test of time for thousands of years across cultures and religions.

Vote to reject Referendum 74 or marriage will be redefined for everyone in the state. R-74 isn’t about same-sex couples living the lifestyle they choose. The “everything but marriage” law already gives same-sex couples the same rights and benefits as married couples in Washington. R-74 is about the definition of marriage.

Marriage has always been about more than the needs of adults. Marriage is the only institution we have that not only unites a man and a woman with one another, but also with any children born to that union. Children have a right to know and be cared for by both their mother and father and relationships that make that possible should be safeguarded. Taking male and female qualities out of marriage will change marriage from a public institution that binds children to their parents to a different kind of relationship, one that focuses on the personal desires of adults.

With a genderless definition of marriage, legal experts warn (and actual experience in other areas confirms) there will be serious consequences for society. Those who refuse to accept this redefinition will be subject to punishment by law. Churches and religious organizations can be forced to abandon their core moral beliefs or face punishment. Individuals, businesses and groups will be subject to lawsuits if they refuse to condone the “new” definition of marriage. Under the law, those who believe in only traditional marriage will be treated as the legal equivalent of bigots.

Ellen Nelson

Ephrata

One issue clarifies

The responses from each candidate regarding the Monitor Migrant Worker Camp paint a stark contrast on an issue that is vital to this valley.

Mary Signorelli had studied the issue, was on top of her facts and figures, and proposed an approach that would build collaboration among agricultural industry leaders, the county and the community to “make sure that we are able to not only have workers on hand to harvest our crops but to have housing for them.” She rightly sees this as “long-range planning that needs to be addressed. It is a matter of sustainability.”

Our current commissioner, Doug England, briefly alludes to “seeking other funding” but concludes his response with “We also have the option of closing the entire facility if it becomes a liability and using the site to enlarge the very profitable trailer camping area next door.”

Bottom line: One candidate is committed to protecting both farm workers and our profitable agricultural industry by building collaboration. She is running against an incumbent who is fine with closing the facility and profiting from the trailer camp instead. The incumbent, by the way, is in the fruit industry himself — in Manson. Apparently there is not a shortage of farmworker housing in Manson. Isn’t a commissioner supposed to serve the whole county? And isn’t this issue relevant to humane treatment of workers — workers who are in fact vital to our community?

There are other reasons to support Mary Signorelli. She intends to treat the commissioner position as a full-time job complete with town hall meetings throughout the county. She brings both business and community experience and she brings a fresh perspective to a commissioner’s office that has been dominated by like-minded individuals with almost identical backgrounds.

But of all the reasons to support her, I find her response to the migrant camp issue the most compelling. I encourage my fellow Chelan County residents to support Mary Signorelli for Chelan County commissioner.

Carol McCormick

Wenatchee

Open-minded Armstrong

I find it very interesting, but not surprising, that Brad Hawkins has tried to build his candidacy for the 12th District by slamming Mike Armstrong on the issues of qualifications, source of donations, clothing expenses and the fact his father was a county commissioner. Hawkins actually stated to The Wenatchee World that he was better educated than Armstrong. So what? Hawkins is better educated than Bill Gates, too. Does that mean Hawkins is smarter, more intelligent or is better with people? Absolutely not.

It is true that Hawkins is the son of Buell Hawkins, a past county commissioner. It is also evident that Brad Hawkins attempts to use this coattail family association to gather support in nearly all his sources to the news media.

There has been much ado made over the source of funds for Armstrong. None of these funds have been hidden. I for one believe that Armstrong must be an open-minded and intelligent individual to work with a divergent class of constituents and industries to generate a diverse source of funds. There is life beyond the 12th District. It almost appears that Hawkins would represent only those constituents who are Republicans who are and were on the school board, and to those who supported him.

I know some of Hawkins team have voiced their concern about the time Armstrong has served and the need for change. I wonder if any of them have ever heard of Doc Hastings. He has been in his position for 15 years and still counting. How about Linda Parlette?

We don’t need cry babies or representatives who dwell on petty issues. Representatives are elected to address all the issues with an open mind and to work with constituents on both sides of the political aisle. Vote for Mike Armstrong.

Joe Ochanpaugh

Wenatchee

Choose Nakata

I am writing this on behalf of Alicia Nakata becoming part of the Chelan County Superior Court. It is my belief she has experience that is untouched by her opponent, Travis Brandt. She has roots that are deep in this close community. Judge Nakata is in her 18th year as your Chelan County District Court Judge. She has been re-elected four times. Judge Nakata’s list of endorsements goes on and on. It ranges from several people on the current Chelan County Superior Court to former mayor of Wenatchee Earl Tilly. Judge Nakata was born and raised here in the Wenatchee Valley. She graduated from Eastmont High School. Her roots are here, so she will fight for us. She has experience that cannot be argued with. Judge Nakata is the clear choice for Chelan County Superior Court.

Emily Bofto

East Wenatchee

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