Letters to the Editor: Paul, Manchin, McConnell, and some patriotic music, too.

Victim blaming

One would think that a newspaper with any standards at all would not print an opinion that blames a victim of crime for the violence perpetrated against the victim. But as the Herald-Leader has recently demonstrated, they think it’s quite alright so long as the victim you blame is a conservative.

In 2017, I was attacked from behind while wearing noise cancellation ear protection by a man with a history of violent political rhetoric against Republicans. Six of my ribs were broken including three where the fractured ends were completely separated from each other. My lung was permanently damaged. I suffered months of agonizing pain and over a year later a portion of my lung had to be removed.

The Herald-Leader apparently sees fit to print a column that argues that the attack was my fault. The courts disagree. The attacker was given eight months in prison and a civil jury returned a verdict holding him responsible for the pain and suffering I endured.

There was a time when society allowed men to blame women for being raped because of provocative clothing. Such arguments were rightly banished from decent society decades ago. I’m disappointed the Herald-Leader would choose to print an opinion casting blame on the victim of a violent crime. Even though the Herald-Leader is a consistent supporter of all things Democrat, I would have thought they would draw the line at publishing a justification for violence.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, Bowling Green

Veteran thanks

I thought the patriotic music concert on July 3 at Transylvania University was absolutely fabulous.

It is really special for old soldiers like me to be remembered and honored. My thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this event so successful.

Harry H. Miller, Lexington

Manchin millions

In 2020, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin earned nearly half a million dollars from his company, and made $5.6 million over the previous decade. Last year, he used his vote in a hung U.S. Senate to block President Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion economic plan in part because he said he was “very, very disturbed” that its climate provisions would kill the coal industry.

Now, he has joined with the Republicans to kill solar and wind incentives. He also killed a plan to help Americans buy electric vehicles. This man is not interested in the future for our children, only his own.

Self-serving politicians seem to always avoid facing the consequences of their selfish behavior. Let’s vote these “obstructionists out!”

Dr. Richard French, Pasadena, Cal.

Authoritarian Versus Democracy

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, with the help of Fox News and talk radio here in Kentucky, has been able to bypass Democracy and install an Authoritarian government here in America. He protected former President Donald Trump from impeachment and caused three Trump-appointed judges to be placed on the Supreme Court against the will of the American people — excluding people from Kentucky.

A majority of the people in Kentucky have been brainwashed or McConnell would have never been elected. He invented the war on coal, told lies about Hillary Clinton, and hated former President Barack Obama.

It seems his only goal since being Kentucky’s senator has been to make the richest top percentile richer at the expense of everyone else, while making those in the bottom percentile believe he is helping them. Misinformation is a lot easier to be believed here in Kentucky than true facts. He has admitted publicly that Trump is guilty of causing the Jan. 6 failed coup, yet would support him for president again.

Trump excels as a cult leader but fails at everything else. He is a loser!

Robert Ray Lillie, Georgetown

Identity politics

While I agree with the bulk of Hank Linderman’s opinion article on rural and working America — primarily the premise that we need to find common ground to set the path toward a return to civility — I wholeheartedly disagree with his insinuation that Democrats should focus less on progressive issues like racism, homophobia, and what he terms “politics based around our various identities.”

Make no mistake, Mr. Linderman: our identities are the essence of the people we are; they are immutable. People should not feel compelled to minimize their identities, particularly at a juncture in our country’s history where there are concrete efforts to roll back the rights of many of these marginalized groups.

The Democratic Party is the party of the marginalized, and while rural voters are certainly marginalized, abused, and often forgotten — in no way should that be taken to mean that we should trade one group for another. Imagine if our party adopted that perspective during the civil rights movement. Where would we be today? I strongly urge Mr. Linderman to abandon his “either-or” fallacy and rethink his position.

Aaron Kruse-Diehr, Lexington

Kentucky Lottery

While the Kentucky Lottery is publicly touting record-breaking sales, they’re simultaneously working behind-the-scenes to wrongly eliminate any perceived competition - at the expense of Kentucky small businesses.

The target of their attacks, known as skill games, are 100 percent legal in Kentucky and an indisputable lifeline for local small businesses. Yet the Kentucky Lottery is determined to ban them, claiming they put the lottery in jeopardy. Studies show that skill games have NO negative impact on state lotteries. The Kentucky Lottery itself is reporting a 6 percent increase in sales over its last fiscal year, all while skill games have increased operation in the state.

Unlike gambling machines where wins are based on chance, skill games require a player to use their skill, patience, and dexterity. Hundreds of Kentucky small businesses rely on the added income of these machines to stay afloat in challenging economic times.

The only people who stand to gain from wrongfully banning skill games are corporate gaming execs. While they disguise themselves as benevolent economic players, they will not rest until they put the little guys out of business. Don’t be fooled by this wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Eric Puening, Lexington

Preserving freedoms

So, get out there and do something to preserve our freedom for ALL Americans... Vote for the best candidates who can repair our nation, our economy, our security, our ideals. Encourage good people. Always do good, not evil. Observe and honor the Ten Commandments, as the ideal guide, no matter your creed, religion or station.

For our leaders - we’re not just looking for a preacher, intellectual or social worker... we are looking for someone who is competent; unselfish; knows how a good economy works; knows how to get good things done; is wise, active and persuasive; and will protect, preserve and improve toward perfection, the ideals and systems of our American way of life.

No one is really perfect. Some are just better than most, especially of many who now have been assigned to do the jobs.

The past is passed. The future begins now.

C. Brown, Lexington