www.factcheck.org

I understand the Local’s policy of printing all letters, but last week (August 12) charging that Senator Kerry did not deserve his Vietnam War decorations is seriously disturbing. Anyone who is not tied to either political party, but just wants a fair election, will wonder why lies like this never disappear. Whether the author of the letter is too naïve to care about evidence (ominous in an attorney), or is a local dirty-tricks volunteer for the Committee to Re-elect the President, is beside the point.

But those who were disgusted two years ago by the filthy rumors about Senator McCain, his wife, and his daughter, and who now encounter charges that Senator Kerry is a lifelong liar, that his spouse gives money to terrorist groups, etc., will want to know that evidence we can use to make up our own minds is available.

The Annenberg School now has a Web site that investigates questionable assertions from campaigning groups or PACs, Democratic or Republican, and documents their veracity. Any browser will find it at www.factcheck.org.

It investigates plenty of misstatements on both sides, and I see not a whiff of partisanship in any of its work. What matters in any case is its detailed evidence, not its conclusions.

The Web site analyzes the attempt to portray Senator Kerry as a cheat at www.factcheck.org/article.aspx?docid=231.

If you read it, you can decide for yourself whether to trust these “witnesses.” Aside from the character of the “testimony,” you will also find out that, according to the IRS report that the “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth” had to file, its initial funding came mainly from a Houston homebuilder, Bob R. Perry, who has also given millions to the Republican party. He donated $100,000 of the group’s initial $158,750. Lest you wonder whether our President knew about this smear, the IRS report reveals that he and Senator Tom DeLay also made personal donations.

Next time you read in the Local a sermon that contrasts the utter truthfulness of President Bush with the depravity of Senator Kerry, or otherwise suggests that all the right is on one side, surf your way to Annenberg and remind yourself that reality is not so black and white.

N. Sivin
Chestnut Hill

A clear choice

Three strikes and you’re out. The Bush administration has struck out over and over again.

Strike one: launched a preemptive war on Iraq, costing thousands of lives and billions of dollars, all based on lies, while diverting our focus from al Quaeda and Bin Laden.

Strike two: in the face of a growing deficit, pushed through tax reductions to the great benefit of the top one percent of taxpayers.

Strike three: took the extremist position against a woman’s right to choose, against stem-cell research and for a constitutional amendment prohibiting same sex marriage.

We could continue throwing strikes on so many issues:

No real prescription drug relief, while banning consumer drug purchases from Canada.

“Patriot” act which threatens “innocent until proven guilty” and denies the rights of accused to legal defense.

Huge no-bid contract awards to Bush/Cheney supporters like Halliburton.

Last but not least is the Bush administration’s assault on the Clean Air and Water Acts, and a National Energy Plan that would open our public lands, including the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, to oil and gas drilling.

These are the reasons for my clear choice of Kerry/Edwards on Election Day.

Marvin Thrall
Chestnut Hill

Elect Hoeffel

Last week marked a turning point in Pennsylvania's U.S. Senate race. The Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Congressman Joe Hoeffel over long-time incumbent Arlen Specter, despite his being a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a former Philadelphia District Attorney who had previously received that organization's support.

During the recent Democratic convention, former President Bill Clinton offered the most rational explanation for this endorsement: "Our [Democratic] crime policy was to put more police on the streets and take assault weapons off the streets. It brought eight years of declining crime and violence. Their [Republican] policy is the reverse, they're taking police off the streets and putting assault weapons back on the streets."

In a closely divided Senate, Arlen Specter has consistently used his clout and seniority to tow the line for President Bush's radical agenda, including ending funding for community policing and ending the ban on assault weapons. Pennsylvanians deserve better and they will get that when they elect Joe Hoeffel as their next U.S. Senator.

Jason E. Salus
Erdenheim

Suggested reading list

Re: Sharon Reiss letter, August 12 Local

It’s not only an informed intelligence that sorts out the daily political stuff we get, but what’s really needed is a logical mind as opposed to an illogical one.

For me, it’s very easy to differentiate between good character, statesmanship and a “snake salesman” presentation.

When I see a President who lies and has no empathy for those not as lucky as he to have been wealthy, I am angry. When I see a President present a “health care” plan that provides no help either with care or prescription prices, I feel angry. When my President falsifies his reasons to send our young men to die, I feel so sad and angry. When I hear a President pretend to care about our precious land and clean air and water, and then quietly uses directives to destroy them, I am angry.

Years from now, if the “hawks” keep getting elected, we will have a country that President Eisenhower tried to warn us about: a military-industrial dictatorship.

The terrorists and the extreme right wing hawks have only one thing in common. They both are very patient, lying in wait; the former want to kill us, the latter hopes to destroy our miracle of democracy that we have had for 228 years.

I suggest these movies or reading for Ms. Reiss:  (1) 1984 by George Orwell; (2) Fahrenheit 451 (no, it’s a different one than Michael Moore’s); (3) The United States Constitution.

Rose Naftulin
Wyndmoor

Positive experience

I wanted to share with your readers a very positive experience I had recently with state and Montgomery County government workers.

I am doing work for the Tour des Trees (www.tourdestrees.org) bike ride raising money for urban tree research and had worked with the good folks in the Montgomery County Park system to sponsor a lunch on behalf of a King of Prussia-based company called The Care of Trees on the first day of their statewide ride.

I had gotten the proper permits from Linda Fries, administrative assistant in the Lower Perkiomen Valley Park office. She and park supervisor Bill Markley were most gracious in their dealings with me. I thought everything was set, but on Sunday, August 1, the rains came and the park was partially flooded. Bill and his crews worked throughout the day and into the night to try to get the trail open and passable for our riders. However, due to continued storm warnings, we decided it might be best to bring the lunch to an indoor venue.

Linda and Bill certainly understood and I made a last minute phone call to Joseph Feola, regional director of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, now based in Norristown. Joe agreed to open their atrium lobby in their new "green building" to our riders, who were surrounded by an indoor rain forest, much needed air-conditioning and a nice, warm welcome. Not only did they welcome us, but they took up a collection in the office and presented us with a check for the Tree Research & Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund).

Due to the last minute change in venue, Montgomery County Commissioner Ruth Damsker was not able to make her way back to Norristown in time to read the proclamation. But her assistant, Sandra Greenwald, on very short notice did come down and read the proclamation for her and presented it the group.

The small acts of kindness by these government employees were truly appreciated by me and the 75 tour riders and support staff, who successfully completed their weeklong 425-mile trek to Pittsburgh this past Sunday. They will raise between $160,000 and $200,000 for the TREE Fund to support urban tree research.

Thanks to county and state workers, we had a great start to the journey.

Barbara Sherf
Flourtown