WUSSES: Well, tell it like it is

Recently Sarah Palin chided some of her Republican colleagues, calling them “wusses.” Later she apologized for her remarks; she believes she might have expressed herself more diplomatically.

Now the Senate has rejected joining 125 other nations in signing on to the Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is based on the American Disabilities Act. It is a pledge access to public buildings, restrooms, buses, stairways, etc., more accessible to veterans, especially those who travel frequently. Senator Bob Dole, disabled during World War II, came to the Senate floor to express his support for the bill. One by one the senators greeted him, then returned to their desks and voted down the bill.

The vote was an insult to all disabled veterans everywhere. Even Senator Lindsay Graham, usually a staunch supporter of veterans, voted against the bill. What happened? Senator Santorum, a strong Tea Party supporter, believes that a phrase in the bill, “the best interests of children shall be a primary consideration,” could lead to efforts by someone, perhaps Albanians, Croatians or Burmese, to prevent home schooling of American children.

The Tea Party members live and govern in an atmosphere of intense fear. Those fears — in this case a fear of, and hatred toward the U.N. — seems to render them incapable of rational consideration of many of realities of modern society. Yet, they have a powerful hold on the Republican base. Several Republican senators, who must run for re-election in two years, had expressed their support for the bill during committee hearings, only to vote No when the bill reached the floor.

Sarah, you are right about so many fellow Republicans. They are “wusses.” You called it like you see it is, and you need not have apologized.

KENNETH GREEN

Coeur d’Alene