DIAMOND, Mo. —
In my lifetime, I have had the privilege of voting in many presidential elections, and that is one of the many freedoms I cherish living in this country.
I was raised in a small town with Democratic relatives and Republican friends, so I prefer not to have either label. I have always voted for the person I believe is best. I keep an open mind with all presidential elections, but this particular election has been more of a concern for me as an American.
I am proud of the label of being an American. So much more was at stake for our country in this election. The Democrats ran a much better campaign than the Republicans, and that is why we have a Democratic president again. Not that I agree with the tactics both parties used, but it was obvious that the Republicans made several mistakes.
The main mistake for Missouri is that Todd Akin did not lose the election for the Senate because of his statements about rape. He lost the election because Republicans turned their backs on him. No matter how stupid the statements made by Democrats, they stick together. The Republicans did not have enough sense to do that.
After reviewing all the issues that Mr. Akin stood for, I proudly voted for him in the primary election, which he won. My vote counted in Missouri, or so I thought. After his statement about rape, of course, I was seriously thinking like any female would. But when he was told by members of his own party to get out of the election, I lost respect for the Republican Party on the national, state and local level. That was a big mistake, and that was why Todd Akin lost the election. His Democratic opponents knew that and used the words from the Republicans against Mr. Akin in political ads.
Todd Akin did not lose by many votes, which proves that he could have won the election in Missouri with continued support from the Republican Party. He did not have that support. I respect Mr. Akin for staying in the election and getting the many votes he did get. Many voters in Missouri wanted him to win, and I am one of them. God bless Todd Akin and his family.
Mr. Akin, someone needs to apologize to you.
Gail Hurlbut
Diamond
Opinion
Your View: Postelection thoughts
- Opinion
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Our View: Finding the way forward
Communication failures and the lack of a clear mission have given rise to turmoil and discord at Missouri Southern State University. The antidote to this is openness, frankness and the articulation of a well-defined purpose as the school moves forward.
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Your View: Finding audience for Bard
It was interesting to see Globe columnist Mike Pound’s recollection of college studies of the Bard of Avon in association with the upcoming production of “Macbeth.”
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Your View: Shifting opinions
I have a suggestion for a Joplin Globe feature. Reprint all the letters and columns from years past that were in favor of the Patriot Act and how people who showed any concern over it “wanted the terrorists to win.”
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James Whitford, guest columnist: New definition needed
I remember meeting a man on the main road through Fond Parisien, a small community on the eastern side of Haiti.
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Our View: Connecting the town
Well before the 2011 tornado, Joplin had a problem with “connectivity.” That’s right. The flow of traffic — whether it be cars, pedestrians or bicyclists — has been a sore spot with us for years.
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Your View: Bold leadership needed
Dear City Council Members, Let me first thank you for your service to our community.
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Other Views: Debt of honor
In Afghanistan, the Taliban have promised to kill Afghans who worked for the Americans and their families. In Iraq, similar threats were made by radical Islamic insurgents.
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Herb Van Fleet, guest columnist: Big Brother is always watching and listening
Sen. Church made that statement 38 years ago. He chaired a committee that was formed to develop legislation to rein in the CIA, FBI, NSA and other intelligence agencies, which had been operating outside the bounds of the law, including the Constitution.
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Geoff Caldwell, guest columnist: Jury still out on whistle-blower’s actions
Whether you see Edward Snowden as a hero, a traitor or something in between, there is no denying that the admitted “leaker” has opened up an industrial-size can of National Security Agency worms.
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Trish Patton, guest columnist: Downtown group needs stakeholders' support
On Tuesday the Downtown Joplin Alliance (DJA) tabled the Community Improvement District (CID) initiative.
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