Wanton killing of unborn through abortion raises eyebrows

Wanton killing of unborn through abortion raises eyebrows

I have been intrigued by Sen. Barack Obama’s pledge to dramatically change government policies and have everyone feel they can live with the changes. Since our Congress is roughly divided along party lines, any President needs the support of the other party to effect substantive legislative change. So, my question for Obama is this: What change do you think I, as a Republican, can live with?

Number one on my list, and the main reason I have difficulty considering any Democrat for office, is the wanton killing of the unborn through abortion. Now, I understand that to completely eradicate this sad policy would be unrealistic in America these days, so I offer some change I can live with. Let’s compromise and actually accomplish some needed change.

Let’s agree that once a fetus (human being) can be sustained outside the womb, abortion should be illegal. I’ll defer to medical professionals to tell me exactly when that is, but I suspect it is soon after the first trimester. I can live with exceptions to this policy for certain medical conditions of the mother, but a policy shift of this sort will greatly reduce our killing of the unborn.

Hopefully, Democrats and Republicans can finally seize some common ground and thereby work better with each other on other important issues.

The big question for Obama and Democrats: Can you live with this change?

Scott Smith
Auburn

Illegal immigration is a crime and should be treated as one

Kudos to Tom Mazzone for detailing how immigrants can legally enter the United States. in his May 16 letter.

Illegal immigration is a crime. Section 275(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act states it so plainly even laymen like me can understand it. “Any alien who 1) enters or attempts to enter the U.S. at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers, or 2) eludes examination or inspection of immigration officers, or 3) attempts to enter or obtains entry to the U.S. by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material face, shall, for the first commission of any such offense, be fined under Title 18 or imprisoned not more than two years or both.”

If they sneak in or come in by fraud, a crime has been committed. Even the attempt is a crime, not a mere civil offense. The first unauthorized entry is a misdemeanor. All subsequent entries are felonies. Our prosecutors could criminally prosecute border jumpers but lack intestinal fortitude to do their jobs.

A felony is a serious crime, and felons are serious criminals. It is time to crack down on those who spit in the face of America’s laws.

Jason Baker
Valley

Columnist should make point clear about La Raza speakers

In response to Bob Mount’s recent (July 15 column) reference to the “extremist Hispanic organization La Raza,” please refer to the official Web site of the National Council of La Raza (http://www.nclr.org/) for an authoritative and factual description of the largest national Latino civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States.

In the same column, Mount asks his readership whether we knew that Mike Huckabee had been a keynote speaker at a NCLR meeting. What’s the point? Both John McCain and Barack Obama were featured speakers at the organization’s annual conference recently in San Diego.

Russ Muntifering
Auburn