Letters to the Editor: Readers debate police, protests and the primary election

Police protect us

I’m a Democrat. I’m considering switching parties to become a Republican. I’m not a fan of Donald Trump. Trump is, in my opinion, the worst president in modern history. To anyone that is paying attention Trump is a man of low character not worthy of the office of the presidency. So why am I considering switching parties? I’m a member of a party that in the last few weeks has lost its mind. Because of one very bad cop being caught on camera murdering an African American man, Democrats all over America are calling for the defunding of police departments. While everyone can and should agree that no police officer anywhere should ever murder anyone, that doesn’t mean that we should overhaul or get rid of our police departments because one cop did. The vast majority of police officers aren’t capable of such a crime as cold-blooded murder. Police every day willingly place their lives on the line to protect and serve law-abiding Americans all across America. In a civilized society the first role of government should be to protect its citizens from harm. Trump and the Republicans at least understand that we still need the police, we just need to get rid of the bad ones.

Phil Greer, Frankfort

What protection?

Following the unrest over racial discrimination in policing, I told a friend that I felt we were lucky to have fairly responsible and accountable police in Lexington. The recent event where two teens were falsely suspected of fraud has proved how wrong I was. The only redeeming aspect was the decision to release body cam video. We want, conditioned by TV, to believe that should we have an encounter with police we will be questioned courteously and treated as innocent unless evidence indicates otherwise. Now everyone is treated as a dangerous criminal. The officers involved in this incident clearly believed that they were following sanctioned police policy. Apparently, that policy does not require evidence of a crime having been committed. It also does not seem to require evidence the individual is guilty of anything. It even seems to allow anyone associated with the individual to be treated as a dangerous criminal. I mean, jerking a teenager out of her car by her hair when she was obviously scared by how the police were treating her boyfriend? The police are supposed to protect and serve. If a gang of men attacked a couple on the street like this, they would be in jail on assault charges.

Mark S. Freeman, Lexington

Stop protests

I’m an average citizen who is in full support of police everywhere. I’m sick of all of this protesting!

Ray Preston, Lexington

Examine the past

It’s quite telling that Lexington’s Black Lives Matter protests circle the former site of a slave auction block and whipping post. Our current systems of oppression are a product of this nasty past of slavery and racism. In Lexington, and everywhere, this history needs to be properly acknowledged and understood in order to move forward. Instead of a mere plaque commemorating Cheapside’s slave auction site, why not create a whole museum centering on Black Lexingtonians’ history? Lexington’s recognition of Black history should expand far beyond Isaac Murphy. In fourth grade, my class learned only Kentucky history, but Black Kentuckians were largely absent from this narrative. Racism is intertwined with Kentucky’s history, with institutions we love and respect today. The Herald-Leader itself largely discouraged and diminished coverage of the civil rights movement in Lexington, silencing Black voices. We need to acknowledge, examine, and openly display such history in order to understand its hold on the present.

Claire Mulhollem, Carlisle

McGrath best choice

Recently I sent in my absentee ballot with the box next to Amy McGrath’s name filled in. If you haven’t already voted, I ask you to join me and vote for Amy. My reasons for my vote are personal. In December 2017, I volunteered for the first time for a political campaign. Before knocking on doors that day, Amy (holding her toddler, Ellie) passionately spoke about why she was running. The importance of healthcare for everyone, better public schools, a living wage, tackling climate change, and that everyone deserves equality. I could feel her authenticity, her compassion, her deep desire to continue serving her country and Kentucky. As a gay woman, wife, and mother of a young Black son, her words resonated with me. A month later, I became a Lexington field organizer for Amy’s congressional campaign. Thousands of Kentuckians from all walks of life came into our office to volunteer. Amy united us in a common cause, to make our lives and our children’s lives better. Sen. Mitch McConnell has shackled Kentucky’s potential for 35 years. If you’ve had enough, join me in voting for the candidate that has the best chance of beating him. Amy is the type of leader that Kentucky desperately needs and deserves.

Kelly S. Kennoy, Lexington

Been here before . . .

In the case of the media’s repeated references to a political candidate’s mistakes, there is no statute of limitations. At the outset of her campaign for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, Amy McGrath awkwardly reversed herself on a position she would have taken in the past.

Hours later. Eleven months ago.

It was not something she in fact did. Since then the Herald-Leader constantly reminds readers about that gaffe. How it might affect her actions if nominated and elected is unsaid.

The media coverage of Hillary Clinton in 2008 and 2016 though admittedly different, given her long public career, is nevertheless instructive. Scholars have established that in 2008 Clinton received less exposure than candidate Barack Obama and far less favorable commentary.

During 2008 almost every story about Clinton mentioned the failure of her plan to reform healthcare during her husband’s presidency. In 2015’s pre-primary phase, according to Harvard University’s Shorenstein Center for media and policy studies, Clinton received constant negative coverage. In 2016 while Trump received overwhelming free media, the media frenzy over what Bernie Sanders called “those goddamn emails” was unrelenting. The Harvard study attributed this partly to her frontrunner status. The frontrunner “is typically described as overly calculating and cautious.” Sound familiar?

Ron Formisano, Lexington

Hicks a leader

I am enthusiastically supporting Josh Hicks in his run to represent Kentucky’s 6th District in the U.S. Congress this year. Having worked for this district for four years at the beginning of my professional career in Washington D.C. (for former Rep. Ben Chandler), I can see that Josh has what it takes to represent Central Kentucky.

Josh grew up on a farm, worked construction, served in the Marine Corps, worked as a police officer and then went back to school and became an attorney in Lexington. There aren’t many people in the district he cannot identify with.

I have also been very impressed with his stance on systemic racism, oppression, and police brutality against Black citizens and the need for reform, and much greater accountability. As a former police officer he has been answering a lot of questions about this.

I believe we need more leadership in D.C. from folks who are driven not by their desire for power, but by their desire to serve. Josh has already shown us his desire to serve. Now it’s up to us to send him to Washington.

Amy Glasscock, Lexington

Race ‘embarrassing’

The two Republican candidates running in the primary election for the 88th Kentucky House District in our city are making a mockery of the campaign process. I say this as a Republican myself. It’s embarrassing.

The destructive antics of these two contenders, Monteia Mundy and Aaron Yates, leave me less than confident in their ability to work for the people of the commonwealth. I cringe at the thought of what could happen if one actually ended up in Frankfort. Name calling? Throw a temper tantrum when thwarted? Get a DUI while driving down Interstate 64? While my comments may sound extreme to some, I suggest they tour the candidates’ social media accounts or ask friends in the 88th to share their texts and mailers.

I cannot place my trust in two people consumed with bullying each other. No matter which Republican wins the primary, past history suggests the personal attacks will continue. But this fall, the target will be our current legislator, Rep Cherlynn Stevenson. The GOP candidate and outside special interests will return to wearing us out with vicious commentary and generally trying to distract voters from legitimate issues. Come November, I’ll vote for sincerity, integrity, and decency. I’ll vote for Stevenson.

Stan Meers III, Lexington

Thanks, Rep. Guthrie

I want to take the time to thank Kentucky Congressman Brett Guthrie for all he has done amidst this terrible time of the coronavirus pandemic. As well as being a great and helpful human, Guthrie has also taken it upon himself to introduce new ways to help our current situation.

Last month, Guthrie joined with his colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee in introducing two bills to ensure effective leadership in emergency technology: the Advancing Blockchain Act and the Countering Online Harms Act. Guthrie’s action will “help our nation foster innovation, secure supply chains, and protect American consumers,” according to Rep. Greg Walden, head of the committee.

Thanks to Guthrie, we’re celebrating innovation and leadership. We are proud to have him as one of our important initiators during the COVID-19 crisis.

Danielle DiDomenico, Danville

Effective, able

I wholeheartedly support Willy Fogle’s bid to return to the Lexington-Fayette Urban Council Council. When I first started working with Mayor Teresa Isaac as commissioner of public works, I asked around to find out who in city government had the best understanding of how things were run. Someone that in a pinch I could go to to get questions answered quickly. Everyone said that person was Willy Fogle.

Willy was invaluable to me as a resource. He has the experience as both a council person and as an aide to a mayor. There is no other person who has his unique abilities and talents. He will be able to serve his constituents most effectively.

Jay L. Whitehead, Flemingsburg