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Calls for "unity" are tiresome

Indianapolis Star, January 25, 2009

To the Editor:

Regarding the January 20 editorial in the Indianapolis Star, I believe I have heard quite enough about "unity" in the wake of Barack Obama's inauguration as President of the United States.

President Obama has a number of public policy goals that I and many other Americans disagree with, such as his support for abortion rights, his promise to increase taxes, and his support for "hate crime" legislation. It is foolish to expect these differences to be brushed aside in the name of "unity" or bipartisanship.

Obama's political adversaries have both the right and the responsibility to point out where they believe his policies to be ineffective, counterproductive or destructive. That can and should that be done in a civil way, without personal attacks and unnecessarily inflammatory rhetoric, but it must be done.

Whether I like it or not, Obama is my President, and I wish him the best. But he does not get a holiday from criticism and commentary on his policies and/or the way he runs his administration. To suggest otherwise does a disservice to political discourse and sound public policy.

Scott Tibbs.