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DAILY 03-02-10 MD RE A14 BLACK
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
d letters@washpost.com
FGHIJ
an independent newspaper
Health-care hubris, on both sides
Despite Kevin Huffman’s preoccupation with pachy-
EDITORIALS
derms [“Less rider, more elephant,” op-ed, Feb. 26] he
apparently missed the elephant in the health-reform
summit conference room. The Democrats stampeded
emotion time after time into their argument with end-
‘An emergency without parallel’
less references to individual hard-luck stories.
These stories highlight the need to improve the
health-care system, but history shows that actions
based on heightened emotions — the Iraq war resolu-
tion and the Patriot Act come to mind — typically have
Is Chile’s incoming president ready to handle the aftershocks of an earthquake?
unintended consequences.
It was painful to listen to elected officials exploit the
IRST REACTIONS to Chile’s massive and much more serious than we thought,” said in- nearly $15 billion to draw on. (One initial esti- suffering of their constituents to bolster their own self-
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earthquake, both in and outside the coming president Sebastián Piñera. mate put the damage at $15 billion to $30 billion; righteousness.
country, included a sense of relief that a Outgoing President Michelle Bachelet at first the latter figure is about 15 percent of the coun- CHRISTOPHER J. KROL, Woodland Hills, Calif.
shock that registered 500 times larger suggested Chile might not need international aid; try’s gross national product.) Chile’s government a71
than that of Haiti’s in January caused no- she was slow to declare a state of emergency in debt is low, and its free-market economy is flex- I’m tired of this Republican meme to “start over” or
where near the same amount of damage or loss of the most affected areas, which may have allowed ible and able to respond quickly. “start from scratch” on health-care legislation. I’m a
life. The death toll, which passed 700 over the looting to break out. Now she is talking about “an Mr. Piñera, a billionaire businessman who is longtime mediator, and in any negotiation, no one on
weekend, was expected to rise further but not to emergency without parallel in Chile’s history” and the first right-wing politician to be elected presi- any side is “starting from scratch.” In the case of health
approach the more than 200,000 killed in Haiti; asking for field hospitals, temporary bridges, wa- dent since the end of Augusto Pinochet’s dictator- reform, no one is new to the issue; it’s been discussed
though badly shaken, the capital of Santiago and ter purification equipment and rescue teams. The ship, already has a plan, which he calls “Let’s for over 40 years.
the most affected city, Concepcion, are still mostly United States, other nations and private rescue Raise Chile Up.” Importantly, he plans to involve The “start over” meme is a stalling tactic and, worse
standing. organizations are responding; their challenge will the country’s robust private sector in the recon- than that, it announces a win-lose bottom line. It’s real-
The second wave of reaction, however, has been be to give Chile the aid that it requires without struction. With luck, the disaster could have a sil- ly asking Democrats to pull out a blank piece of paper
more sober. Chile’s leaders — who include an out- slackening the effort in Haiti, which still faces ver lining in the revamping of vital infrastructure and cry “uncle” on any previous proposals. No negotia-
going president and a president-elect due to be overwhelming needs. and housing. It will, in any case, offer a severe tor starts by saying, “I lost. Now I’m willing to start
sworn in next week — are now talking about far Fortunately, Chile is better prepared than most opening test for Mr. Piñera, whom some see as the over.”
worse damage than they initially anticipated, other nations to handle a crisis of this kind. It leader of a new generation of Latin American LAURA WHITE, Bladensburg
with potentially far-reaching consequences for scrupulously saved some of the bounty from its leaders committed to economic and political free- a71
Latin America’s most successful economy. “This copper exports when prices were high in recent dom. Not only Chile will have a lot riding on his Regarding Dana Milbank’s Feb. 26 Washington
calamity is much deeper, much more damaging years, and as a result it has a rainy-day fund of success. Sketch column on the health-reform summit, “Prof.
Obama walks tall and carries a big paddle”:
What Professor Obama is lacking is basic manage-
Mr. Barry’s
ment and leadership skills. His arrogant, conde-
TOM TOLES
scending jabs at Republicans at the summit showed
only that he lacked confidence in his ability to gain
trust and motivate Congress to get the job done. Most
advocate
leaders listen more than they talk. Mr. Obama and the
Democrats seemed to talk more than they listened,
and he said he deserved more time to speak because
“I’m the president.”
Is the lawyer-lobbyist
I think the Blair House dunce cap should have been
worn by our president.
charging market rates? PETER FILLMORE, Chevy Chase
a71
T’S NO SURPRISE that when D.C. Council Last week’s health-care summit was demeaning to
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member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) finds him- everyone involved. When did President Obama be-
self in trouble, he turns to Frederick D. Cooke come a member of Congress? Why was he moderating
Jr. Mr. Cooke, an astute lawyer, was corpora- a debate that got down in the weeds of detail? Isn’t
tion counsel for the Barry administration from there a country to run?
1987 to 1990, is well versed in the politics as well as Mr. Obama spent six hours arguing and talking
the workings of D.C. government and is fond of the down to his opponents, only to declare at the end that
former mayor. Less clear is what kind of financial the gaps couldn’t be bridged.
relationship exists between the two men; given Mr. Mr. Obama also felt compelled to declare that he is
Cooke’s role as a lobbyist seeking to influence legis- the president, and therefore allotted more time to
lation, more information should be provided. speak than anyone else. When I was a little kid, I used
Mr. Barry faces censure from his council col- to make up games and play them with my friends. Ev-
leagues and possible criminal prosecution in con- ery once in a while, I changed the rules as I went along
nection with allegations that he violated ethics because I was in charge. After that, the other kids
laws in steering public funds to friends and associ- didn’t play with me for very long.
ates, including a girlfriend. Mr. Cooke is represent- S.P. MCCOLLUM, Fredericksburg
ing Mr. Barry; he has issued statements on his be- a71
half, prepared the formal response to Robert S. In her Feb. 24 op-ed column, “Here’s the plan.
Bennett’s critical report and on Monday attended Where are the votes?,” Ruth Marcus wrote: “In the
part of D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray’s House, the only way to cobble together a majority will
news conference outlining possible action the be to secure votes from moderate Democrats who
council might take Tuesday. Neither Mr. Barry nor balked at passing the bill the first time around. These
Mr. Cooke would answer our inquiries as to wheth- are the lawmakers who are most rattled by the Mas-
er Mr. Cooke is being paid for his services and, if so, sachusetts vote — with good reason. For a Democratic
how much. House member in a swing district, the politics counsel
We understand that Mr. Cooke is constrained by against voting yes.” And she added, “ ‘This is a career-
attorney-client privilege, but we disagree with Mr. ending vote,’ one Democrat told me — and this was a
Barry’s position, as conveyed by his spokeswoman, lawmaker who voted for the original bill.”
that this is a personal and private arrangement. “Career-ending vote”? Perhaps thinking of their
The public has a legitimate interest in knowing elected office as a “career” is a significant problem with
whether Mr. Cooke is being fairly compensated for five statements with the D.C. Office of Campaign board of a nonprofit that contracts with the Dis- far too many senators and House members. Where are
his services (he told us his normal rate is $350 to Finance, and none of them lists any gifts. trict to run group homes for the developmentally representatives like Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky,
$450 an hour). Mr. Barry’s financial hardships have The high-profile role that Mr. Cooke plays in city disabled. Mr. Cooke told us that his role is mainly to who bravely cast the deciding vote on President Bill
received widespread publicity; his council salary politics makes disclosure all the more important. A advise clients, but a day after we talked to him, he Clinton’s controversial 1993 budget and lost her bid for
has been subjected to garnishment to settle tax veteran of some of the District’s biggest legislative registered as a lobbyist for Clear Channel Outdoor reelection?
debts. D.C. law requires council members to dis- battles (the bottle bill, for example), Mr. Cooke re- in a dispute over billboards. That issue is set to M.J. GRACE, Monterey, Calif.
close annually all gifts with an aggregate value of mains a well-known presence at the Wilson Build- come before the council Tuesday, and it will be in-
$100 or more received from any entity transacting ing. He represented a firm in the contentious battle teresting to see how — or whether — Mr. Barry
any business with the District. Mr. Barry has filed for the city’s lottery contract, and he sits on the votes.
Climate change: Not solid science
David Jenkins [letters, Feb. 26] compared actions
Fairfax’s election
High noon at the high court
taken by President Ronald Reagan to combat ozone
depletion to actions that the United States now con-
templates to combat global warming, arguing that
Reagan “acted on the science, which was far less solid
Our choices in two races The justices will decide another critical gun-rights case.
than current knowledge about climate change.”
The ozone depletion by chlorofluorocarbons was
AIRFAX COUNTY voters go to the polls to- HE SUPREME COURT concluded in 2008 nation’s capital a right that the justices have ruled observed directly in the upper atmosphere, was re-
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day for two special elections to fill a House
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that the Second Amendment protects the is embedded in the federal Constitution. produced under controlled scientific experiments in
of Delegates seat representing Burke, individual right of District residents to That is not to say, however, that a recognition of the laboratory and was understood from a first-
Springfield and parts of Fairfax Station and keep and bear arms. On Tuesday, the jus- individual rights should foreclose the possibility principles perspective (CFCs, which are attributable
to elect a Mason District school board member. tices will consider whether this right extends to of regulation. Writing for the five-justice majority directly to humans, act in a catalytic way in the de-
The race for the House’s 41st District, made va- the rest of the country. in Heller, Justice Antonin Scalia acknowledged struction of ozone).
cant by David W. Mardsen’s election to the state The court’s decision in District of Columbia v. that “like most rights, the right secured by the Today’s science for climate change does not meet
Senate, features Democrat Eileen Filler-Corn Heller was heralded by gun-rights advocates as Second Amendment is not unlimited.” Indeed, any of these scientific thresholds. Climate-change sci-
against Republican Kerry D. Bolognese. Ms. Filler- historic and criticized by others, including us, as even First Amendment rights of free speech and ence remains largely empirical and anecdotal. Pru-
Corn, former liaison to Capitol Hill for former gov- unduly activist for disregarding precedent and association have been subject to restrictions when dence might push us to act on climate change in the
ernors Mark R. Warner and Timothy M. Kaine, has single-handedly throwing out the District’s demo- the government proves it has a compelling reason. near term, but it won’t be because climate change is
a deep understanding of the issues facing the state cratically authorized gun laws. But the ruling’s The court should rearticulate this important “settled science,” as some claim.
and is the best choice for these critical times. impact has been limited because the District is a principle. PATRICK RHOADS, Alexandria
Running for the board of education are Sandra federal enclave — an entity that is legally distinct Reasonable gun-control measures, including
Evans, a longtime education activist who was from states. registration requirements and background
once a reporter for The Washington Post, and at- Since that decision was rendered, a group of checks and those specifically tailored to meet the
torney Samantha Rucker. Ms. Evans has impres- Illinois residents have challenged Chicago’s strict needs of particular communities, are necessary to
Memories of a gentle musician
sive credentials as an advocate for children’s issues gun-control laws by arguing that the Second protect public safety. Law enforcement officials, I read with great interest the Feb. 26 Metro article
and is well-experienced in the fiscal challenges fac- Amendment also obligates states and non-federal both local and national, have testified about the “The day a Navy Band’s music was painfully silenced,”
ing the schools. She has our endorsement to fill the jurisdictions to abide by the Supreme Court’s necessity and wisdom of such laws. Extending le- about the death of 19 musicians in a 1960 airplane
seat left vacant by last fall’s election of Kaye Kory pronouncement. gal protections to gun owners should not and crash. I was 12 years old, and I will always remember
to the House of Delegates. It would seem incongruous at best and legally need not come at the expense of sensible rules to the shocking news that my violin teacher, Jerome Ro-
Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. indefensible at worst to deny to those beyond the protect public safety. senthal, had died. He was a gentle, patient, kindly
man, and I will never forget him.
PAUL KEATS, Montgomery Village
LOCAL OPINIONS
ABCDE
Kowtowing to Toyota
3 Join the debate at washingtonpost.com/localopinions
EUGENE MEYER, 1875-1959 Regarding Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour’s Feb. 24• PHILIP L. GRAHAM, 1915-1963
Keep Prince George’s Planning Board chief in his job
KATHARINE GRAHAM, 1917-2001
op-ed piece, “Fairness for Toyota”:
BOISFEUILLET JONES JR., Chairman
Gov. Barbour, wipe the Kool-Aid off your upper lip!
I am disappointed that Prince George’s Coun- only disrupt the programs he leads but also KATHARINE WEYMOUTH, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer Good grief, man, have you completely sold your soul
ty Executive Jack B. Johnson is attempting to re- compromise the continuity of the Planning
News pages: Editorial and opinion pages:
to Toyota? I, too, am a Republican, but even I don’t
MARCUS W. BRAUCHLI FRED HIATT
place the chairman of the Prince George’s Plan- Board’s critical work. The citizens of Prince Executive Editor Editorial Page Editor think Toyota has been completely forthright in its re-
ning Board, Samuel Parker Jr., with one of Mr.
RAJU NARISETTI, Managing Editor JACKSON DIEHL
sponse to this issue. The company has known for
ELIZABETH SPAYD, Managing Editor Deputy Editorial Page Editor
Johnson’s chief aides as Mr. Johnson’s term of
Mr. Parker brings more than 25 SHIRLEY CARSWELL
quite a while that it had a problem, but its analysts
office comes to a close [“Bid to replace chief
Deputy Managing Editor
Business and advertising:
weighed the pros and cons of a recall before making
planner is criticized,” Metro, Feb. 26]. I strongly
years of professional experience
STEPHEN P. HILLS, President and General Manager any decisions. Please, do not ever ascribe altruism to
urge the County Council to refrain from ap-
to his work.
Vice Presidents
any large, multinational corporation. Its job is to
ROGER ANDELIN ......................................................................................... Technology
pointing a new chairman right now. KENNETH R. BABBY .................................................................................... Advertising make money for its shareholders, and its only concern
Mr. Parker brings more than 25 years of pro- George’s County need an orderly conclusion to
BENJAMIN C. BRADLEE .................................................................................... At Large
USHA CHAUDHARY..................................................................... Finance & Admin/CFO
is financial.
fessional experience to his work and has led the these important efforts and a smooth transition
JAMES W. COLEY JR.......................................................................................Production
So while I will reserve judgment on Toyota’s re-
L. WAYNE CONNELL ......................................................................... Human Resources
county in the direction of smart and equitable to a new administration after a new county ex- LEONARD DOWNIE JR. ...................................................................................... At Large sponse to this critical issue until investigations are
growth. ecutive is elected.
GREGG J. FERNANDES .................................................................................Circulation
JOHN B. KENNEDY ............................................................................................... Labor
complete, I would like to offer these words to Mr. Bar-
Equally important is Mr. Parker’s role in di- RABBI ELIZABETH A. RICHMAN, Washington ERIC N. LIEBERMAN ......................................................................................... Counsel bour: Any large corporations that choose to do busi-
recting important efforts such as Envision The writer is program director for Jews United for
CHRISTOPHER MA ................................................................................... Development
GOLI SHEIKHOLESLAMI ...................................................................................... Digital
ness in Mississippi (and the rest of the United States)
Prince George’s and the Takoma/Langley Cross- Justice, which has been involved in the campaign to
STEVE STUP ..................................................................................... Digital Advertising
do so for less noble reasons than promoting the wel-
roads Sector Plan. protect affordable housing in Takoma/Langley
The Washington Post Company:
fare of the citizens of said state. You need not grovel.
DONALD E. GRAHAM, Chairman of the Board
If Mr. Parker is ousted, the move would not Crossroads. 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071 (202) 334-6000 CHRISTOPHER C. BROWN, Columbia
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