Goodlatte’s spiel starts with a falsehood

Goodlatte’s spiel starts with a falsehood

I received a robo call from Rep. Bob Goodlatte in support of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli in his race for Virginia governor. In the call, the congressman claims President Obama took $716 billion from Medicare for Obamacare. Romney/Ryan tried the same spin in the last presidential campaign. Politi­­Fact.com gave it numerous “Mostly False” ratings, just above “Pants on Fire.”

Truth is, $716 billion was cut from future Medicare spending, mainly from subsides given to insurance companies; $716 billion was not taken from the Medicare trust fund, a purely false statement on Goodlatte’s part.

The rest of the call was geared toward the good character of Cuccinelli. Too bad the congressman included a false statement, which made the rest of the message questionable.

ROBIN BARNHILL
ROANOKE

The Declaration was written by men

Ethan Betterton’s letter (“As founders declared, rights are God-given,” July 26) says that the Declaration of Independence clearly states that “all men are . . . endowed by their Creator with certain . . . rights. . . .” So, because our Founding Fathers wrote it, it must be true?

Did God tell them personally that he endowed them with these “unalienable rights”? How naïve can people be?

MICHAEL OGDEN
ROANOKE

Open up talks on new trade deal

The biggest trade deal ever is headed for Washington in the fall. The Trans-Pacific Partnership is a pending trade agreement that encompasses 40 percent of the global marketplace.

According to leaked documents, this agreement will impact the cost of medicine, food safety, jobs — here and abroad — and may enable Wall Street to sidestep select reforms put into place after the 2008 financial collapse.

Negotiations involving 12 countries — including the United States and Japan — are secret. The document needs to be open for public debate.

Voices in Washington are pushing for a fast track on the TPP. This means the president would sign the agreement before Congress voted on it. Elected officials would have a few hours to debate, but ultimately vote yes or no only — with no chance to amend provisions.

Major trade agreements directly affect people’s lives. Negotiations that occur in the shadows, lacking transparency and attempting to eliminate public debate, should be questioned.

DENISE PILLOW
HOT SPRINGS

Remembering a more honorable time

The Honorable Buzz Emick writes: “A Rolex is not a perk of office” (July 25 commentary).

Amen, Your Honor. Thanks for your timely comments. So much integrity has faded or disappeared totally through time.

Some among us are not nor have been accustomed to fine, expensive wines and single malt scotches, being satisfied with the simpler things in life earned through hard, honest efforts; appreciating respect of family, friends and neighbors — people responsible for putting us where we are.

In other words, being RED necks, wearing WHITE socks and sippin’ BLUE Ribbon beer. And remembering the dear lady Margie Fisher.

HERM REAVIS
SALEM

Weather Journal

4 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