As a political independent who didn't vote for either Clinton or Trump, I've been amused as local partisan opinion writers for the Daily News attempt to justify their positions. In a Dec. 1 Her View column, Lenna Harding argues in favor of a recount "in certain states where the outcome was questionable." Notice how she doesn't apply the same standard to Minnesota or New Hampshire where Clinton won by a small margin. Are the outcomes in those states less questionable? Or just more desirable?
Nick Gier displays the same partisanship, arguing elsewhere Sept. 3 the national debt is the fault of the GOP. He argues Democratic presidents have reduced the debt the most; and as proof, the Obama administration has reduced the deficit from 11.1 percent to 2.7 percent. Either the philosophy professor doesn't know the difference between debt and deficit or he's being duplicitous, which is tragic for an ethics professor. The national debt went from $10.6 trillion the day President Obama took office to $20 trillion today. You can argue that constitutionally it's Congress' fault, but don't lie that the debt is less under Obama.
Another example: Sen. Hillary Clinton sponsored the 2005 Flag Protection Act that is identical to what Trump recently suggested. Yet Trump is (rightly) vilified by the Democrats for taking that position while Hillary Clinton is championed. Same for Democrats objecting to George Bush's unjust war against Iraq but being silent about Obama's murderous interventions in Libya and in Syria, both undertaken without congressional authorization.
And Republicans are no better, condemning Bill Clinton's adulteries while excusing Trump's.
Democrats and Republicans: do not politicize your conscience. Be intellectually honest and hold your party to the same standard that you hold the other party to. Independent voters determine the outcome of elections, and we're watching you.
Dale Courtney
Moscow
