A24
KR
KLMNO FGHIJ
an independent newspaper EDITORIALS
D
congratulate him and wish him success. Mr. Gray was not our choice; we believed that May- or Adrian M. Fenty deserved a second term to continue his important work in reforming schools and modernizing government. But Mr. Gray ran a campaign with passion, organiza- tion and resilience. If he brings the same qual- ities to city governance, he will be off to a good start. Mr. Gray headed into the final weeks of the hotly contested race as the clear favorite, so it’s almost hard to recall the days when his candi- dacy — against a well-financed incumbent who just four years ago won every ward of the Dis- trict — seemed like a long shot. It’s true that Mr. Fenty helped defeat himself, by waking up too late to the resentment many voters felt toward what they perceived as the mayor’s arrogance. But to cast that as the whole story would under- estimate Mr. Gray and the power of his appeal for a city that can do better for all of its citizens. It was a message that resonated with residents struggling in neighborhoods east of the river and with those who feared they were being sup- planted by gentrification. Mr. Gray, who faces only token opposition in
the Nov. 2 general election, will take office at a potentially perilous moment. Foremost, as he acknowledged in Wednesday’s post-election press conference, are financial challenges at a time of growing demands. The city, its reserves depleted, already faces a $34 million shortfall in federal Medicaid funding, and revenue fore- casts expected this month could bring even gloomier news. During the campaign, Mr. Gray promised generous support for the University of the District of Columbia and its community college, for pre-K education and charter schools, and for much else. Where the money for that new spending will come from is un- clear, but it was reassuring to hear Mr. Gray talk about working closely with the D.C. Coun- cil, which is expected to be under the new lead- ership of Kwame R. Brown, in making the hard choices to ensure the city’s fiscal health. Mr. Gray also struck exactly the right tone in addressing the racial and class divisions appar- ent in the city’s split between him and Mr. Fen- ty. Wards 1, 2, 3 and 6 went for Mr. Fenty while Wards 4, 5, 7 and 8 supported Mr. Gray. Mr. Gray was gracious in thanking Mr. Fenty for his hard work in service to the city and his promise of a smooth transition. More important is that Mr. Gray said that his first order of business will be to reach out to those who didn’t support him, including Republicans and independents. No doubt Mr. Gray’s promise to govern in a
style that is more inclusive and collaborative than that of Mr. Fenty was part of his appeal to voters. Consensus is admirable when consis- tent with results. But one of Mr. Fenty’s strengths was a willingness to make hard deci- sions, such as firing bad teachers or requiring taxi meters, even if it cost him in popularity. Mr. Fenty also came into office largely unbe- holden to the kind of special interests that em- braced Mr. Gray’s candidacy. Mr. Gray prom- ised that he won’t turn the clock back on the city’s progress, and he emphasized his commit- ment to school reform. We hope that he can work toward his stated goal of “one city” with- out losing the impetus for change that has ben- efited the city and its residents during the past three years and nine months.
A vote on gay rights The Senate’s chance to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’
T
HE SENATE will have a historic and long overdue opportunity next week to repeal the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” pol- icy.
This should not be a difficult choice. Defense
Secretary Robert M. Gates and Adm. Mike Mul- len, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, have called for repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” as has President Obama. Recent polls show that nearly 80 percent of the American people also favor re- peal. The House and the Senate Armed Services Committee voted this year to abolish the Clinton-era measure and gave the Pentagon until Dec. 1 to release a plan to implement a repeal. The president, Mr. Gates and Adm. Mullen
would have to certify that implementation of the repeal would not hurt recruitment, readiness or retention. But the plan will be meaningless un- less the Senate also acts — and soon. If some senators need additional incentives for striking down the law, they should take note of a federal judge’s decision last week that con- cluded that “don’t ask, don’t tell” is an un- constitutional incursion on the rights of gay and lesbian service members. The judge’s decision elucidates what an affront the policy is to those who are forced to live in silence — and in fear of dismissal — as they risk life and limb for their country. Aspects of U.S. District Judge Virginia A. Phillips’s decision give pause, however. Is a
judge the ideal person to make judgments about readiness and unit cohesion in the armed forces? This is a situation that cries out for a political so- lution, and soon, rather than waiting for years as this case wends its way through higher courts. Yet procedural and political wrangling be-
tween the two parties threatens to derail the progress. Both sides should take a deep breath. Lawmakers should insist that the military not be a haven for bigotry, and they should heed the judgment of top military leaders, who would not embrace repeal if they believed it would hurt the country’s defenses. If even this proves uncon- vincing, they should remember that if they fail to lead, the courts are poised to step in.
LOCAL OPINIONS 3Join the debate at
washingtonpost.com/localopinions
Campaign behavior that should be retired
I received enough mail from candidates in the local primaries to fill a recycling bin. What did all these mailings and canvassings accomplish be- yond wasting valuable natural resources? If candi- dates were seeking name recognition, they got it — but the adults in my household would not vote for any candidate showing such disregard for the envi- ronment. The unwanted communication didn’t stop
there. The automated phone calls our family re- ceived leading up to the primary disrupted our dinners and interfered with getting our children to school How would interfering with family time have benefited any candidate, especially when there was no live voice on the phone to answer questions about the candidate’s views? GRACEKARMIOL, Rockville
Michel Martin’s Sept. 11 op-ed, “Independent — and disenfranchised,” displayed a complete lack of understanding of political parties in arguing for her right to vote in the District’s Sept. 14 primary. Ms. Martin thinks she should have a say in a par-
ty she does not want to join for a variety of reasons. In Virginia, voters don’t register by political par-
ty. So anyone can vote in the Democratic primary this year and the Republican primary next year. As a result, both parties have some members who vote in the primary for the opposition candidate they believe would have the least chance to win the gen- eral election. Ms. Martin should join a party and participate
in selecting candidates with like-minded people. Her reasons for not doing so are inappropriate. DORSEYWITTIG,Vienna
ABCDE
EUGENE MEYER, 1875-1959 • PHILIP L. GRAHAM, 1915-1963 KATHARINE GRAHAM, 1917-2001
BOISFEUILLET JONES JR., Chairman KATHARINE WEYMOUTH, Publisher and Chief Executive Officer News pages:
MARCUS W. BRAUCHLI Executive Editor
RAJU NARISETTI, Managing Editor ELIZABETH SPAYD, Managing Editor
SHIRLEY CARSWELL Deputy Managing Editor
Editorial and opinion pages: FRED HIATT
Deputy Editorial Page Editor
STEPHEN P. HILLS, President and General Manager KENNETH R. BABBY, Chief Revenue Officer/GM, Digital
Business and advertising: Vice Presidents
ROGER ANDELIN ......................................................................................... Technology BENJAMIN C. BRADLEE .................................................................................... At Large USHA CHAUDHARY..................................................................... Finance & Admin/CFO JAMES W. COLEY JR. ......................................................................................Production L. WAYNE CONNELL ......................................................................... Human Resources LEONARD DOWNIE JR. ...................................................................................... At Large WENDY EVANS ............................................................................................. Advertising GREGG J. FERNANDES .................................................................................Circulation JOHN B. KENNEDY ............................................................................................... Labor ERIC N. LIEBERMAN ......................................................................................... Counsel CHRISTOPHER MA ................................................................................... Development STEVE STUP ..................................................................................... Digital Advertising
1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071 (202) 334-6000
The Washington Post Company: DONALD E. GRAHAM, Chairman of the Board
Editorial Page Editor JACKSON DIEHL
Challenges in D.C. and Prince George’s T
Congratulations, Mr. Gray. The hard part is still to come.
.C. COUNCIL CHAIRMAN Vincent C. Gray’s victory in Tuesday’s Democratic primary virtually ensures his election as Washington’s seventh mayor. We
Rushern L. Baker III offers a new brand of leadership.
HE TRIUMPH of Rushern L. Baker III in Tuesday’s race for county executive in Prince George’s marks a moment of profound hope in a county whose po- litical leadership in recent years has
too often and in too many ways proved a terrible disappointment. Mr. Baker’s surprisingly easy Democratic pri-
mary victory, which practically ensures him a win in November’s general election, represents a dramatic and positive break from the county’s prevailing political culture. In a place where cronyism, fast-and-loose public ethics and a sense of entitlement have thrived both in the of- fice of county executive and on the County Council, Mr. Baker’s ascent seems to hold the promise of more open, accountable and clean government. The fact that so many aides and allies of the
incumbent, Jack B. Johnson (D), had lined up behind Mr. Baker’s chief rival, Sheriff Michael A. Jackson, suggests that the election returns are a blunt rejection of Mr. Johnson’s brand of opaque, lax and uninspiring leadership. That Mr. Baker won by such a wide margin makes the results all the more stunning. It’s not that Mr. Johnson’s tenure did not bring certain advances in the county. But in con- versations with county residents, the sense of drift and disappointment is apparent. They want and demand nothing more than what their Beltway neighbors — Montgomery and Fairfax counties — already enjoy: high-quality schools;
safe neighborhoods; vibrant new development around Metro stations; high-paying private- sector employment; and accessible, A-list shops and restaurants. Mr. Baker will not be able to deliver any of
that overnight, though we hope he will move quickly to raise the bar of ethical standards in the county’s political offices. His skills as a man- ager and an executive remain unproven, and even suspect. He will not single-handedly be able to reform the county’s sprawling bureauc- racy or control a County Council whose mem- bers vary in experience, quality and qualifica- tions.
Still, we hope Mr. Baker will reach far beyond his immediate circle of friends and allies to ap- point competent, serious and non-political managers to top county positions. We hope he will treat his discretion over spending public funds as a sacred public trust. We hope his ad- ministration will be accessible, forthright and transparent. All that would be a major improvement for
Prince George’s, and there’s every reason to ex- pect it. For Mr. Baker brings to his new job an ex- cellent record and reputation from his days as a lawmaker in Annapolis, where he was regarded as constructive, open-minded, sensible and hon- est. Those qualities clearly hit home with many voters in Prince George’s who shared Mr. Baker’s belief that the county hasn’t lived up to its huge potential. They deserve a new day of leadership and a revival in the county’s fortunes.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
dletters@washpost.com
Staying the course in Afghanistan
Anders Fogh Rasmussen’s Sept. 11 op-ed, “Re- membering 9/11 on the battlefield,” was a timely re- minder that victory in Afghanistan is within our col- lective reach. Some 2,000 NATO troops and thou- sands of Afghan soldiers, police and civilians have given their lives to secure the future of Afghanistan against extremism and terrorism. The costs of premature withdrawal from Afghani- stan are far greater than the costs of staying the course until Afghans can stand on their own. But for the counterinsurgency to succeed, the Pakistani military establishment must be persuaded to end its institutional tolerance of and active support for ex- tremism, e.g., the Taliban. The terrorist and criminal groups affiliated with Pakistan’s Inter-Services In- telligence directorate, not Afghan villagers, are fuel- ing the insurgency. Not until Afghanistan is no lon- ger vulnerable to state-sponsored terrorism that fla- grantly violates the U.N. charter will there be permanent peace in Afghanistan and stability throughout the region. What gives me hope for victory are the Afghan people, more than 70 percent of whom are younger than 25. In urban and rural Afghanistan alike, they have begun standing on their own. They deserve a chance to move beyond the past three decades of im- posed conflicts on our nation, with the continued engagement of the United States and NATO. M. ASHRAFHAIDARI,Washington
The writer is deputy chief of mission and political counselor at the Embassy of Afghanistan.
TOM TOLES
In his Sept. 12 op-ed column, “A dubious battle for Afghan hearts and minds,” David Ignatius worried that the U.S.-led coalition’s goal of turning responsi- bility over to the Afghan government by July may not be achievable, citing “basic weaknesses in plans for governance and training.” He wrote that “without adjustments,” the answer might be that “you can’t get there from here,” recall- ing the punch line to the old joke about a Maine farmer’s reply to someone asking for directions. In another old joke about a tourist seeking direc- tions from a Maine farmer, the outsider asks about the best way to get to his destination. “Does it make any difference whether I take this road or that road?” he asks, pointing to a map. “Not to me, it don’t,” replies the down-easter. With so much at stake, Americans cannot afford to be indifferent to the question of which road to take in Afghanistan. The two studies cited by Mr. Ig- natius suggest that our military operations are not building support for the Afghan government and that attrition is foiling efforts to create a bigger Af- ghan national army and police. Not only do we face a situation where we might not get to our goal next year, it appears that if asked whether it makes any difference whether Afghanistan is ruled by Presi- dent Hamid Karzai or the Taliban, more and more Afghans might say, “Not to me, it don’t.” JULIE BETTENBERG, Burke
War rationing’s other goal
Anne Applebaum got it half right when she de- scribed the austerity measures in wartime and post- war Britain [“Mind the austerity gap,” op-ed, Sept. 14]. What she forgets is that wartime policy was in- tended to lessen the gap between rich and poor. In class-stratified Britain, policymakers feared that the poor and working classes would be less than eager to support a war in which much would be demand- ed of them but little given in return. So even as aus- terity measures were imposed on the haves, social programs for the have-nots grew substantially. For example, children whose families were unable to af- ford milk and orange juice were given these prod- ucts. In the world of postwar rationing, the National Health Service was launched, to enormous public approval. It was this attempt to make sure that one class did not bear the brunt of wartime and postwar privations that fostered the remarkable unity of that era. The real lesson of the finest hour is not that aus- terity is good for you, but that the well-to-do can and should give up luxuries so that the multitude can have necessities.
JEAN R. FREEDMAN, Rockville What Osama bin Laden wants
In his Sept. 12 Outlook essay, “Let’s stop playing into bin Laden’s hands,” Ted Koppel offered a cogent view of America’s aggressive reactions — and over- reactions — to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. But his contention that one of Osama bin Laden’s likely goals on Sept. 11 was to goad the United States into an excessive response is not accurate. In statements both before and after Sept. 11, bin
Laden made clear that he believed America lacked the will to fight and would likely retreat from Mus- lim lands if hit hard. He pointed to earlier U.S. with- drawals from Lebanon and Somalia after our troops suffered casualties, and the lack of a response to the USS Cole attack off Yemen in 2000. “We found [America] had no power worthy of mention,” he said in an October 2001 interview. As Mr. Koppel pointed out, overreacting to terror-
ism certainly plays into the hands of a capable ter- rorist group such as al-Qaeda. But so do perceptions of weakness. The challenge for any counterterror- ism strategy is to find that elusive balance in be- tween.
STUARTGOTTLIEB,New York
Wall Street earns its ‘demonizing’ In her Sept. 10 Washington Forum piece, “Obama
vs. Wall Street: Call a truce,” Chrystia Freeland might have been more justified in asking President Obama to stop “demonizing” Wall Street if our bailed-out corporate titans weren’t still giving themselves huge bonuses, sitting on more than $1 trillion in cash and complaining that they were being overregulated. But the job market is still stagnant, and our big fi- nancial institutions have a responsibility to people who helped them become wealthy and then prevent- ed them from continued catastrophic failure. It is time for Wall Street to use some of its creative energy to turn the economy around for the benefit of all. Otherwise, Wall Street will continue demonizing itself.
JAMES B. CRAWFORD, Alexandria
d
Letters and Local Opinions:
letters@washpost.com Op-eds:
oped@washpost.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92