Trump's antics bare character flaw

ISSUE | CAMPAIGN 2016

Trump's antics bare character flaw

Donald Trump's reason for boycotting Thursday's Republican presidential debate - that he would not be treated fairly by Fox News anchor and moderator Megyn Kelly - was arrogant and misguided ("Trump to boycott Iowa debate," Wednesday). But he managed to outdo himself with his juvenile act of trying to draw attention from the debate, ostensibly for a noble cause - raising money for military veterans.

The hypocrisy is astounding. Trump would have us believe that he is all about helping wounded warriors. This is the man who said of Republican Sen. John McCain, who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for more than five years: "He's not a war hero. He was a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured."

This is more proof that Trump is not presidential material.

Samuel Cardillo, Philadelphia

Proof will be in the votes

Donald Trump as presidential candidate is a media creation along the lines of American Idol and Keeping up With the Kardashians. There is no substance in his campaign or his policies, only image.

He does well in the polls, but will that translate into votes? I would hope not.

Trump's campaign is based on fear, hatred, and lies. Most politicians are deceitful to some degree, but he goes to new extremes.

For people to support him because he is perceived as a political outsider is bizarre. Many of the problems in this country can be traced to the wealthy having too much influence in Washington. Why would it be better to skip the middle man and give political power directly to a notorious billionaire?

I hope enough people will realize his selfish goals when it's time to vote. I am not enthralled with any of the candidates in either party, but voting Trump in as president would rate as one of the greatest embarrassments and disasters in this country's history.

Ralph Schwendeman, Chadds Ford

Judge Democrats by their campaign skills

A letter summarizing the Democratic presidential race is a sad commentary on how little the public has been able to pay attention to the three candidates ("Overlooked Democrat," Thursday) while pundits and the media focus on the Republican brawl.

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley has shown himself to be a moderate voice for change - in what little media coverage he's gotten. But he has failed to mobilize a grassroots campaign of any competence or scope, unlike Hillary Clinton (with the help of her wealth and that of several contributors) and Bernie Sanders (with a growing army of small contributors).

Campaign building is a foreshadowing of a candidate's ability to govern. O'Malley has run a 1970s campaign and has paid for it with low political returns.

Ben Burrows, Elkins Park

ISSUE | CLIMATE CHANGE

Consider a carbon fee

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA announced that global atmospheric temperatures in 2015 were the warmest on record ("It's official: 2015 hottest on record," Jan. 21). Ocean temperatures also surpassed records last year.

NOAA also reported that sea levels are rising around the continental United States because of the warming of the oceans and the melting of land ice, affecting coastal infrastructure. Rising seas threaten nuclear power plants, Superfund cleanup sites, landfills, sewage treatment plants, naval bases, homes, and businesses. Former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin warns that federal spending to deal with global warming and rising sea levels is likely to be enormous.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R., Wis.) promises that the Republican Party will offer an alternative to the left's agenda. It's critical for this to include bold, effective, limited-government solutions on energy and climate. One market-based policy that should be considered is a revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend program.

Many Republicans are pledging to tackle the hard issues head-on. Tackling climate change is a great opportunity to do just that.

Terry Hansen, Oak Creek, Wis., terrylp7@gmail.com

ISSUE | PUBLIC HEALTH

Black HIV/AIDS talks

Have you been tested for HIV? Many people think that HIV/AIDS is under control in America, but statistics show that it is still growing in the African-American community.

As a prelude to National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Sunday, the Camden Area Health Education Center will host a three-hour seminar in the multipurpose room at Rutgers University-Camden at

4 p.m. Wednesday. Actor and author Sheryl Lee Ralph will share her experiences with people who have had the disease, and artists from the community will lead informational sessions. Participants can be tested for HIV and learn about it.

Martha Chavis, executive director, Camden AHEC, Camden

ISSUE | LIFESTYLE

Barbie gets real

Finally, a Barbie we can all celebrate ("A Barbie who looks like me, you," Friday).

With a more-than-ample rear end and a well-endowed front end, I grew up wanting to be a size 2. When I looked in the mirror, I never asked, "Do I look good?" Rather, I'd ask, "Do I look thin?"

With Mattel's new celebration of the diversity of women, maybe this generation will play both runway model and ambassador to the United Nations.

Cindy Gelman Singer, Philadelphia