Dewine reversed himself by backing Trump’s COVID-19 response
At the beginning of the pandemic, Gov. Mike DeWine's leadership was unparalleled. He was steady and calm, decisive and forthright. He deferred to Ohio health director Dr. Amy Acton in matters of science. As a lifelong and passionate Democrat, I disagree strongly with him and his party on many issues. Regardless, I felt he was putting the health and best interest of Ohioans above party influence.
In the daily briefings, he took a "buck stops here" approach that I admired. I trusted him. Sadly, that trust was misplaced. When, after one day, he withdrew the mask mandate at the end of April, my antennae went up. I began to fear he was being influenced by the Trump administration. That belief has been confirmed, as I've watched him release and excuse Trump rallies from requiring masks even though masks are now required throughout the state, and praised Trump and his actions.
On CNN on Sunday, Dewine said, "I'm partisan. I'm for Trump," and praised the White House's handling of the pandemic, refusing to answer questions about Dr. Scott Atlas' influence and other topics. Like 99.99% of all Republicans in office, he's clearly allowed Trump to influence him in ways that are reckless and cowardly.
I've lost all confidence in his leadership, which saddens me as I once cheered for him, defended him and shared with others how much I admired his actions. It appears that eventually, even those who appear the strongest eventually fall into lockstep with party politics. What a sad commentary.
President Harry S. Truman called upon the country
in this way: "Let us keep our eyes on the issues and work for the things we all believe in. Let each of us put our country ahead of our party, and ahead of our own personal interests."
How I wish Ohio's leader had the strength to follow his lead.
Rebecca Hamilton, Hilliard
Americans have a wide range of religious beliefs
I respond to the Saturday letter “Candidate Biden doesn't abide by Catholic beliefs” from Marytherese Croarkin. She wrote that Joe Biden stands in direct opposition to Catholic teachings regarding abortion and implies one should not vote for him. I remind Croarkin that this country is not 100% Catholic.
Biden promises to be president for all the people of this country, not just Catholic. As a Jewish American, I do not, nor do the rabbis, believe abortion can be seen with only one lens. The physical and mental health of the mother come first in Judaism. If a medical provider cannot save both the mother and the fetus (at any time during the pregnancy), the mother comes first.
The mother might have other children and those children should not be left motherless. A husband should not be left to care for children without a partner.
Maybe Croarkin thinks medicine is so wonderful today that the situation I mention above can no longer happen. Small town hospitals in all states might not have the ability to save both lives depending on the situation. If the woman has no medical insurance, both may die.
Love thy neighbor also means respect for a neighbor's beliefs and their privacy. Joe Biden shows that respect.
Merrylynne G. Lincove, Columbus
Sportswriter should forgo politics and stick to sports
I respond to the Sunday Dispatch Sports column “Do Orr, Nicklaus have same Trump writer?” by Michael Arace, which slammed President Donald Trump. Many of us look to sports as an escape from the current political acrimony. Arace defiled that retreat by using his position to promote his personal political views.
He wrote, “It's one thing for an athlete, or any visible figure, to support a candidate for political office. It is another thing to make a public endorsement.” I suppose Arace is somewhat a “figure” and he is certainly “visible,” so he violated his own rule by making a public endorsement.
Nobody cares what Arace thinks about Trump. They care he thinks about the Ohio State University game.
Kevin W. Brown, Columbus
To disparage medical community is beyond disgusting
As a Cleveland physician caring for communities disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, I am beyond disgusted with President Donald Trump's baseless claim that
American doctors are profiteering from deaths due to COVID-19. I have medical and nursing colleagues who are risking their lives and the health of their families every day to care for coronavirus patients, many of whom are desperately ill.
Even the best protective equipment cannot fully ensure my colleagues' health and safety.
With this attitude, the Trump administration's catastrophic failure to control the coronavirus pandemic should come as no surprise, with cases and hospitalizations spiking almost everywhere, including in Ohio. Meanwhile the Trump administration, by its own admission, is doing nothing to get the pandemic under control.
For the health of our nation, I hope we do not allow four more years of this toxic stew of incompetence, arrogance and mendacity.
James Misak, Cleveland
Kudos to Dispatch sports columnist for taking a stand
I suspect Dispatch Sports Columnist Mike Arace will get lots of the kind of blowback that was directed at the sports figures who endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2020 ("Do Orr, Nicklaus have same Trump writer?" Sunday). However, it is good to see someone willing to point out some of the hypocrisy of sports leaders endorsing a very morally flawed president.
It shows that not all in the American sports community buy into Trump's view of the world of sports, or his view of any other world. Looking at sports and the sport leaders and applying his interpretation of sports in the wider view is the job of a sports columnist, and Arace is doing it and doing it well, with a note of humor. Keep it up.
David Pritchard, Columbus