Letters: Melania Trump's speech, dress have people talking

ISSUE | CAMPAIGN 2016

An unbelievable choice of words

Melania Trump had no words of her own to describe her husband ("After speech, elation crumbles into crisis," Wednesday). She had to steal Michelle Obama's praise of Barack Obama at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. There is a word that does describe the shifty huckster and his believers: unbelievable.

|Bruce Joffe, Piedmont, Calif.

Plagiarism taken lightly

Melania Trump's plagiarism may have been one more example of the Republicans' and Donald Trump's sexism. Since she was just a woman, who cared what she said?

|Nancy Mortimer O'Brien, Ambler, nancymobrien@comcast.net

If only Melanaia Trump had said . . .

Melania Trump's presentation at the Republican National Convention was eloquent and showed grace under fire. Here, though, is what I wish she would have also said:

"Donald and I apologize to the disabled reporter my husband mocked. His words do not reflect our family's values and beliefs."

"Climate change is real. My husband recognizes that the world's scientists agree that this issue must be addressed, and he will make it a priority of his administration."

"My husband loves all people and will not discriminate against anyone because of his or her religion."

"The issue of immigration is a complex one. Therefore, my husband will be offering a comprehensive plan to address this issue by the end of this month."

"Because we have nothing to hide, we will release our tax returns immediately."

Discussion of possible "cribbing" of a Michelle Obama speech by Melania Trump or her speechwriters is a distraction and only emboldens Donald Trump.

|Robert J. Rosania, Scottsdale, Ariz., bobrosania@gmail.com

It was a dress, not a racist stand

There is no place for racism in fashion. Although I may question Melania Trump's taste in spouses, I would never question her taste in fashion ("More than a fashion statement?" Wednesday).

When I see Michelle Obama, whom I admire and respect, in a black dress, I don't think she is making a statement about race. The article was prejudiced, baseless, and unprofessional. Fashion writer Elizabeth Wellington should take a cue from Melania and ask herself, "Would Michelle Obama say this?"

||Ed Truncale, Erial, etruncale@comcast.net

Beware of Trump's bigotry

Every Republican voter should take heed of the words of David Lee Preston ("Holocaust survivors' son asks, whither the GOP?" Tuesday). Whatever reason supporters have for backing Donald Trump, his refusal to disavow white supremacists and the tendency of his campaign to dabble in neo-Nazi propaganda should be a disqualifying factor.

To accommodate hate is to help perpetuate it. And hate's next target might turn out to be the accommodator.

|Bill Fanshel, Bryn Mawr

Those in glass houses . . .

Gov. Christie, who is embroiled in the George Washington Bridge lane-closure scandal and was trounced in the Republican presidential primaries, could offer nothing positive for his jaded party except to elicit chants of "Guilty!" and "Lock her up!" in making a case against presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton ("Christie gets his chance to make a prosecutor's case," Wednesday). Such is the fear of a strong woman candidate who has served her country and accomplished something.

Christie truly was the "Biggest Loser" in an arena full of losers.

|D.J. McElroy, Philadelphia

Where are the Donald's tax returns?

The Republicans gave their party's nomination to a candidate who has not yet squared with the American people ("Trump nominated," Wednesday). Why hasn't Donald Trump released his tax returns and shown the American people that he has had the same experience as every taxpayer?

Every modern-era candidate has released tax information - until now. What is being hidden from the public?

|Sheldon Stiefeld, Glen Mills