This letter brought to you by the H-word

This letter brought to you by the H-word

I could not believe this thing about Paula Deen. Can anyone honestly say he has not uttered the N-word? This finger pointing and crying over a word that is used by people all of the time, and by the folks who cry about it the most, has reached its plateau. I cannot for the life of me understand the vulture mentality of people waiting to pounce on others when they themselves are guilty. And just how far back do these accusers need to go to realize the last time they uttered it? I’d bet minutes and certainly not years.

I say the word hypocrite carries more weight than the N-word these days, and I’d say the word hypocrite is appropriate in this case.

MARY DAVIS
VINTON

Bring some help to desperate people

In the paper there was an article about a lot of people living in poverty (“State still undecided on Medicaid expansion,” June 16 news article). Some had no health insurance and had major illnesses. Some could not get food stamps. Some had worked all of their lives but did not qualify for the necessities of life.

It is a disgrace to our political system. Wake up, politicians. Our people need help.

RUBY C. McCULLEY
SALEM

Obama’s policies earn admiration

President Obama has supported the military by ending two inherited wars. Obama has helped seniors by advocating for entitlement support. Obama had the middle class in mind with his proposals for job creation. The president and the first lady have fought for proper nutrition and educational access to children who live under inadequate means. No other president has worked toward equality for the LGBT community like Obama. He was persistent in fighting to make health care accessible to nearly 45 million people who previously were unable to obtain coverage.

Obama’s efforts for gun control after Newtown may be the most laudable. The public was hungry for policy changes six months ago, and the politicians were ready to respond. Yet as the National Rifle Association flexed its power and many Republicans became reluctant to give Obama a victory, nothing was passed.

In a few weeks, another school year will begin and another season of football will keep many occupied. The firearms homicide rate in the U.S. is 20 times higher than the combined rate of the next 22 high-income developed countries.

Sadly, this inaction regarding protection of the innocent means additional massacres will have to take place in order for there to be sensible change.

JONATHAN FIEDLER
ROANOKE

Outlook for coal depends on election

President Barack Obama has made it clear that part of his energy strategy is to kill coal. Like the president, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe is more interested in satisfying the global warming crowd than preserving jobs in Southwest Virginia.

Republican candidate Ken Cuccinelli wants to keep coal king in Virginia. He has stood up to Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency and its overreach. His energy plan promises to promote new clean-coal technologies.

Cuccinelli believes in coal as a viable part of America’s energy future; he believes in Virginia.

Obama and McAuliffe believe in selling Virginia’s future down the road in favor of lofty and increasingly discredited parlor theories.

KAREN K. SAUL
ROANOKE

Weather Journal

5 hours ago

1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County 

2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day

3. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys

4. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping 

5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football 

6. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen

7. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust

8. Roanoke farmers markets making local foods more accessible

9. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli 

10. Man's drowning is 5th in Lynchburg area