LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

What was Kerkman thinking?

Given her strident support of Scott Walker and Donald Trump, and the Republican Party’s anti-labor agenda, how ironic that state Rep. Samantha Kerkman was standing shoulder to shoulder with some of Kenosha’s labor movement giants at Laborfest. Guess she missed President Trump’s tweet slamming organized labor and Democrats on Labor Day. Does she really think working folks have forgotten Act 10,which she fully supported? You know, the law that pretty much decimated public employee unions in Wisconsin? Or her embrace of Walker’s “right to work”(for less) assault on all workers?

Upon further reflection, perhaps she just decided to spend the day mingling with Democrats and join the pending “Blue Wave” that her mentor, Governor Walker, predicts is coming to Wisconsin in November. Too bad she didn’t bring state Sen. Leah Vukmir along with her. After all, standing between Bob Wirch and Peter Barca, some of that “pro labor” attitude might have rubbed off on her. She has given a whole new meaning to the mantra “Solidarity Forever.” Hope her Republican supporters weren’t watching!

Richard A. Bosanko

Bristol

Baldwin doesn’t represent us

“Maverick” is something we admired in the late Sen. John McCain. Would Sen. Tammy Baldwin ever be in the camp that would stand up on her own and vote other than how Chuck Schumer tells her vote?

Tammy already states she will vote “no” on the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Judge Kavanaugh. Judge Kavanaugh studied at the prestigious Yale University and clerked for Justice Anthony Kennedy and serves as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia . ... and Tammy says “I don’t have confidence in Judge Kavanaugh.”

It’s time for Tammy to listen to the constituents of Wisconsin. The president won this state and his nominees should not be politicized.

And although Tammy is campaigning for “opioid legislation” and now shares the story of her late mother’s addiction, she failed to introduce legislation in her previous term in Congress or since she became senator in 2013. Senator Baldwin had the bully pulpit to push for legislation on this crisis. Only during campaign time, does she become an advocate.

Finally, Wisconsin voters will not forget Senator Baldwin’s lack of action in the Veterans Administration controversy in Tomah; perhaps this is the motivation for distraction.

Let’s send a senator to Washington who represents us.

Suzanne McKinney

Cudahy

Democratic disruptions

I used to think that President Donald Trump was the issue when it came to showboating and dramatics. But now it is the Democratic Party and its staged liberal activists who have become the problem in this nation. Judge Brett Kavanaugh is a great nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court. He has a remarkable record and is a truly qualified candidate.

But the Democrats do not care about the constitutional process or to have a great nominee confirmed. The Democrats only want to smear Trump in any way they can, and Kavanaugh is next on their list.

You look at past nominees from Democratic presidents, and you will see overwhelming majority of support by Republicans. But when it comes to a Republican-appointed justice, the Democrats revert to the party line. The Democrats only care about their power and their base. Sorry, but those political ideals need to be checked at the door.

Sen. Lindsey Graham said it best: The Democrats do not have the power to choose a justice, that is why we have elections and those elections have consequences. Democrat divisiveness and disrespect of our nomination process to score points with liberal activists are making a mockery of our nation and system as a whole. Sen. Kamala Harris just lost her chance to become president in 2020 with her rude interruptions at the start of the hearings. That type of showboating and disrespect of our nation is why the majority of Americans are turning away.

Pete Papageorge

A Catholic bias on the court?

If Bret Kavanaugh is approved for the U.S. Supreme Court, seven of its nine justices will have Roman Catholic backgrounds. The other two are Jewish. The majority of Americans are neither Catholic nor Jewish. On this and many other issues, such as educational backgrounds, the court has a terrible record for diversity.

The Catholic Church holds firm opinions on many issues that could come before the court in the near future, such as abortion and immigration, not to mention the church’s legal jeopardy with its recently exposed problem of pedophile priests.

It is especially important at this time that the Supreme Court not exacerbate its already existing religious bias. That should be reason enough not to approve Bret Kavanaugh.

Dave Wester

Baraboo

A need for paid family leave

The article headlined “Keeping your career vs caregiving” powerfully describes the difficulty Wisconsin families experience handling caregiving costs, particularly women who are often forced to reduce hours or leave the workforce in order to provide care to those who raised them. And the article correctly points out that paid leave is one key policy to change this. Some legislators have not acted, but a broad and diverse coalition have been working hard to change that. More than 60 groups concerned with health and the economy and the well-being of children, seniors, and much more are part of the Keep Families First Coalition, led by Wisconsin 9to5. We urge voters to ask every candidate where they stand on this vital policy for Wisconsin families.

Astar N. Herndon State Director, 9to5 W

Disrespectful funerals

“Decency wins,” at least according to Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). Obviously, whatever funeral he attended was not any of the funerals I saw on television. The late Sen. John McCain’s animosity toward the current resident of the White House was obvious, and his daughter expressed that. That is forgivable. Not inviting Sarah Palin, who has never said a disparaging word about the late senator, is not. This was a time to put aside the petty differences and show some respect. It appear the speakers forgot this was a funeral.

Aretha Franklin’s funeral was more of the same. It is plain wrong to take the pulpit at such a solemn event for political purposes. The elites may think this is decency but their conduct was vulgar and sickening to those of us who know what it is like to bury a loved one. This is another example of why the people of our great country have turned their collective backs on the swamp creatures that inhabit our government.

Bill Meyers

Please email your letters to jsedit@jrn.com, or mail them to Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, P.O. Box 371, Milwaukee, Wis. 53201-0371. Letters should be about 200 words.