Criticism of Obama isn’t personal

I usually don’t respond to criticisms of my occasional letters to The Herald (June 1 “We must speak up for our Vets”) but since my name was mentioned more than once in a June 4 letter (“It’s not solely Obama’s fault”), I feel that a response is warranted. First, when I respond to a letter to The Herald I never use the name of the letter writer. I believe in and thank God for our right to express our opinions. I never make it personal. By the way, my criticism of President Obama is of his policies and his leadership style. It is never personal. Second, nowhere in my letter do I suggest that President Obama is solely responsible for the problems of the Veteran’s Administration. I simply criticized his slow response time and up to this point his lack of leadership in solving these horrific problems. Third, when I mentioned that there are those who feel that President Obama has “an inward disdain for the military” I was quoting what has been said my many pundits and commentators. I sincerely hope this is not true.

I am not a member of the Tea Party although I agree with many of its principles. Nor am I a member of the “radical right.” I am just as critical of Republicans who are more interested in protecting their power base than solving our nation’s problems. I am a simple man and a concerned citizen who deeply cares about our nation and the direction it seems to be heading.

Mike Shouse

Edmonds