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    Copied below is a letter sent to U.S. Rep. John Carney, D-Del. A copy was furnished to the Delaware State News for publication. You can post your opinions by clicking on "Reply."

    I was, as were many Delaware citizens, extremely disappointed in your behavior concerning the contempt-of-Congress vote towards U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. [“U.S. House votes to hold attorney general in contempt,” Associated Press article, June 29] You were elected to represent the people of Delaware and were expected to cast a vote, either for or against, this contempt-of-Congress vote. I, for one, fully expect you to follow party lines and vote against holding Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt.

    Instead, you chose to follow former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in walking out of the House prior to the vote. This in itself was a slap in the face of the family of deceased Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry, as well as very disrespectful to all of the citizens of Delaware who elected you to Congress. You were elected to represent the people of Delaware and to vote on very issue, not just the ones you feel like voting for. In your next election, these same citizens of our great state of Delaware can also vote you out of Congress, as well.

    John Forbes

    Dover

President Barack Obama

    Since George Washington, presidents have used their prerogative of executive privilege (we are talking here of executive privilege, NOT executive order) to protect the deliberative process of the executive branch. Mr. Obama’s first and only use of this privilege is nothing new. Recently, executive privilege has been used six times by Bush II, 14 times by Clinton, one time by Bush I and three times by Reagan. So, rather than this being a “kingly” pursuit, it is a presidential pursuit. The Attorney General, Mr. Holder, provided over 7,000 documents to Mr. Issa and his committee. Everything requested was provided except for the said deliberative documents authorized to be retained by the Executive Branch (don’t you love our democracy and its separation of powers?!). Mr. Holder attempted to reach compromise with the Publicans, but alas, again, they are not interested in compromise (I refer to the Republicans as “Publicans,” much in the same way as they erroneously refer to my side as “the Democrat Party”). Ms. Monahan is very concerned with the death of one Border Patrol agent who died in the course of his duty. [“King Barack I,” Letters to the Editor, June 30] One wonders if she is as concerned with the lack of transparency in the Bush II administration. The calculated “mistakes” in that administration cost over 5,000 young men and women their lives, with another 20,000-plus injured, some severely. While we all wish that no one in law enforcement or the military should die in the line of duty, it happens – sometimes on a larger scale than at other times. Time is already starting to tell what a bad story Iraq was: a devious, horrific, immoral and very bad war for America.

    Regarding the economy: we are moving in the right direction. It takes time, especially when people like the Minority Leader of the Senate unhelpfully say the Publican goal since 2008 is to stop this president from being re-elected. That means don’t let him or the Democratic Party succeed at all, in anything!

    As the Affordable Health Care Act goes into effect, more and more Americans will understand and like it. Already, parents of young adults are glad their children can stay on their health care plans till they are 26. People who were denied health care because of “pre-existing conditions” are happy they can receive treatment. Seniors who no longer have to fear the “doughnut hole” are certainly happy. Provisions in effect are already popular. Are the Publicans going to take these away from people? The American people will no longer believe the lie espoused by Mr. Romney that it represents the largest tax increase in American history or lies of the Speaker of the House and his minions that it is a job-killer or lies from the group Americans for Prosperity, who claim it takes away freedom from Americans: what bullpucky! You have the choice not to participate, but as the Supreme Court ruled, you can be required to pay a fine/tax/penalty, whatever, so the rest of us don’t have to foot your hospital bills.

    Mr. Obama is at least trying to do something to help Hispanic youth. By the way, Marco Rubio had nothing to do with the DREAM Act. This legislation, which has a long and convoluted history, was first introduced in the Senate by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Orin Hatch (R-Utah), and in the House by Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) in 2001. And because President Obama supported it, it was ultimately voted down by PUBLICANS IN THE SENATE! Get your facts straight! Mr. Obama would have liked to have a more-permanent immigration policy, but you know who all said NO.

    Yes, the president and the then-majority Senate and House Dems could have accomplished more in the first three years of Mr. Obama’s administration. In fact, the House passed over 240 pieces of legislation to help the American people, much of it Mr. Obama’s programs, only to be “filibustered out” by the Publicans in the Senate – those folks of NO. These NO people, led by the aforementioned Senate Minority Leader, would rather our country fail than see Mr. Obama and the Democratic Party and the American People succeed!

    Carolyn Swift

    Milton