Catholic victory?

The Missouri Legislature’s decision to overturn Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto (9-13, A1, “Nixon’s veto of birth control bill is overturned”) may have been seen as a “victory for Catholics” by the church hierarchy, but it is a sad day for many Catholics like me who do not toe the line on contraception.

Preventing unwanted pregnancies is an important social goal, as well as a personal and private matter for individual women, especially in this economy. Religious freedom does not mean a religious institution is free to influence the rights of individual citizens.

When government changes policy to accommodate the leaders of the most restrictive religions (a practice we condemn in other parts of the world), we are in trouble.

In a democracy, we are not allowed to opt out of every government action that happens to offend us, be it war, capital punishment or health care regulations.

I thank God for our inclusive, ostensibly secular, form of government and pray we can get back on track soon.

Julie Frickleton

Leawood

Akin shows arrogance

I believe that Missouri Republican U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin and I would agree on many things such as fiscally responsible government spending and valuing human life. But he expresses his views so inarticulately.

I would be embarrassed for him to be our U.S. senator. He has deluded himself into believing that he can win this upcoming election. Those around him somehow believe there is some grand principle in losing a Senate race by huge margins.

Akin and his handful of hard-core supporters seem willing to watch a Senate seat that could have been winnable slip away, and with it likely Republican control of the Senate and repealing of Obamacare.

Akin claims to be a devout Christian, but he has overlooked the biblical passage about “pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

The arrogance he has demonstrated by staying in this race is appalling. The amateurish way he’s run his campaign and his unwillingness to listen to scores in his own party tell me Mr. Akin would be a bitter, loner, ineffective U.S. senator with no friends.

But, of course, he won’t get that far.

Preston Smith

Blue Springs

Media misses mark

The failed “apology policies” of President Barack Obama’s administration are now in full view, and all the media can talk about is Mitt Romney’s statement regarding the situation (which was very accurate) (9-13, A10, “Comments signal a new campaign”).

There are radicals throughout the world who want to kill as many Americans as possible for all sorts of contrived reasons.

Clearly these people only understand brutal force and are deserving of the same.

Do not be fooled by the Obama sycophants who believe these radicals will leave us alone if we just wouldn’t provoke them.

In fact, these may be some of the same people our government supported in overthrowing their dictatorial governments, yet another Obama administration failure.

This is the story the media should be focused on.

Brad Wahle

Lee’s Summit

Pro-life, anti-woman

Is pro-life an anti-woman issue? I never thought of it that way until the war on women was unleashed.

Pro-life does not support the life, health or trauma of the mother, only the potential life of a fertilized egg as long that embryo lives within the woman’s womb. Once that life has a taken a breath outside of the womb, what is the pro-life agenda?

Do pro-lifers support access to good health care, education, opportunity, clean air and water, affordable wages and safe work environments. Are pro-lifers anti-war, anti-crime and anti-death penalty?

If pro-life does not support lifesaving issues after that first breath, then pro-life is only an anti-woman agenda that only wants to control a woman’s decision about her life and body.

Nancy Mudd

Overland Park

Romney is reckless

It is appalling how swiftly and recklessly Mitt Romney turned the attack on our embassy in Libya into an attack on our president (9-13, A10 “Comments signal a new campaign”).

In times of crisis, the last thing any leader of this nation should do is turn such a tragedy into a self-serving political opportunity.

This act demonstrates the true character of our GOP presidential candidate. He has proved that he will do or say anything of any kind, regardless of its wisdom or its truth.

Blaming Obama for the attack on our embassy by a radical faction in Libya demonstrates Romney’s willingness to stoop to the lowest level possible if he judges it will gain him votes.

Such a person should never become the leader of the free world.

Dale E. Ramsey

Raymore

McCaskill like Truman

It will make me somewhat sad if Sen. Claire McCaskill wins re-election only because of Todd Akin’s absurd comments on rape. McCaskill deserves to win in her own right, not by default.

Many freshman senators do not make much of a mark in their first terms. Not true of McCaskill.

Much like Harry Truman, McCaskill earned a national reputation by her outspoken role in committee investigations of defense and General Services Administration spending. Her years as Missouri auditor established her as an honest player, a savvy accountant and a taxpayer watchdog.

She took those skills to Washington and went to work immediately. McCaskill has been a moderate Democrat, unafraid to buck her own party.

She has opposed the legislative custom of earmarking spending for pork-barrel projects at home, irritating senators in both parties. McCaskill has remained responsive to her constituents and true to Missouri values.

She holds Truman’s old Senate seat, and to me she has done him proud. She has earned re-election in her own right, not by default.

John Veal

Kansas City

Obama, responsibility

Karl Rove hit the nail on the head. Jeb Bush answered a question wanting his opinion of what President Barack Obama could do to improve the economy.

Bush was criticized when he answered that the president needed to quit blaming his predecessor and take responsibility. He is showing weakness as a leader.

When Rove was asked to comment, he said if Obama was so intent on blaming others he needed to look in the mirror. He led a filibuster to prevent a vote in the Senate when then-President George W. Bush tried to rein in Fannie and Freddie.

Sen. John McCain continued fighting for regulations. Democrats would have no part of this.

Sens. Obama, Christopher Dodd, Hillary Clinton and John Kerry were the four leaders of the opposition. They also received big campaign contributions from Fannie Mae.

James F. Westhues

Overland Park

Health care noise

Aren’t we all so sick and tired of listening to the endless health care debate as so many of our citizens, including young children, go without any access to basic health care? By the way, I haven’t heard of any protests lately in countries like Canada or England about the health care systems there.

I guess the residents of these countries are satisfied with their care and don’t worry about labels like “socialized medicine.” And don’t the people of these countries live longer than we do in the U.S.?

Maybe we can learn something from the systems of such countries and incorporate their best practices into our own, unique health care plan tailored to the needs of all American citizens.

Michael Quinn

Liberty

No Child Left Behind

Despite Republican obstructionism, President Barack Obama continues to do everything in his power to reduce taxes for all Americans. The president also is allowing states to opt out of the No Child Left Behind Act, which was signed into law by then-President George W. Bush in 2002.

At a time when the United States was losing jobs, President Bush thought it was prudent to stiff the middle class with another Republican mandate (or tax if you’re Mitt Romney). Unlike the Affordable Care Act, which places mandates only on deadbeats who would stick us with their hospital bills, No Child Left Behind placed unfunded mandates on the states and local school districts, hitting every American and costing the country billions of dollars.

Obviously, parents and local schools are too incapable of teaching their children, so big-government Republicans have to do it for us. Yet, taxpayers got the bill.

I would like to thank President Obama for releasing the states and the taxpayers from this intrusive, socialist Republican program and this draconian Republican tax.

Spencer Morrison

Gardner