The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Letter to the editor

Donald+trump+speaks+to+a+room+of+more+than+a+thousy+and+supporters+in+Cedar+Rapids%2C+Iowa+on+Thursday%2C+July+28%2C+2016.+Trump+was+joined+by+Iowa+GOP+members+Joni+Ernst%2C+and+Terry+Branstad.+%28The+Daily+Iowan%2FJordan+Gale%29
Donald trump speaks to a room of more than a thousy and supporters in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Thursday, July 28, 2016. Trump was joined by Iowa GOP members Joni Ernst, and Terry Branstad. (The Daily Iowan/Jordan Gale)

Donald the Magician

The Republican candidate for president acts like a magician. He casts a spell on the media, which babble incessantly over the latest outrageous statement — until the next one comes. The babble goes on, the media regurgitate the babble, and the public is left with no useful information.

  This election shouldn’t be about what he said or what she said. It should be a referendum on the behavior of the Republican Party for the last six years. Did we really approve six years of no legislation, of shutting down the government, of doing nothing to recover from the 2008 Bush recession, of failing to invest in infrastructure, of sabotaging instead of improving Affordable Health Care, of blocking all legislation on climate change, of reducing support for education, of preventing any immigration reform, of depriving We the People of a replacement for a ninth Supreme Court justice? Despite many horrific mass shootings, Republicans have ignored all attempts to regulate firearms; they have prevented any tax-reform measures that would ask the 1 percent to pay their fair share of taxes. They would roll back EPA protections that keep our air and water safe. Republicans completely control the House and the Senate and have bottled up Congress for years and undermined our faith in the Constitution. And it gets worse: In 17 states in which Republicans have complete control, they’ve also attacked the constitutional right of various groups to even exercise the right to vote — minorities, the aged, and students. Is that OK?

So the next time the Magician waves his wand, ignore the babble. Ask if the Republicans should be rewarded for their irresponsible behavior. Then vote accordingly.

— James Conger

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