Virginia delegates hide from controversial vote

Re: "Senate candidates clash over gay judicial nominee," May 16

As someone who admires Virginia Del. Bob Marshall for his tax and budget views, I was dismayed to learn that he thinks anyone who opposes anti-gay discrimination can't be trusted to swear a judicial oath to uphold the state's laws.

However, at least Marshall put his views out there, awful as I think they may be. I'm more ashamed of the 36 of 100 delegates who did not vote "yes" or "no" -- but abstained or absented themselves.

I'm reminded of what Edmund Burke says happens when good people do nothing. Staring at the floor or hiding in your office is shameful behavior for people we sent to Richmond to be our leaders.

Joseph Henchman

Arlington

Anti-bullying laws do more harm than good

Re: "From Watergate to Wedgiegate," May 15

As Gene Healy observed, the Obama administration has sought to classify speech protected by the First Amendment as "bullying" and "harassment." It has also equated even harmless teasing with bullying.

Banning all teasing is harmful, notes psychologist Dacher Keltner, who observes that teasing teaches children "the wisdom of laughing at ourselves, and not taking the self too seriously."

Draconian anti-bullying regulations can harm small children. As a school administrator pointed out, rigid state anti-bullying laws can terrify "kindergartners who are just learning how to socialize with their peers" by getting rid of informal teacher responses that show kids how to behave in "teachable moments," and replacing them with scary, formal interventions "by everyone from the teacher to the anti-bullying specialist, principal, superintendent and local board of education."

The government should stop promoting extreme, draconian rules against "bullying" and "harassment" that will backfire against children.

Hans Bader

Senior attorney,

Competitive Enterprise Institute

Romney's response exposed his lack of rhetorical skills

Re: "From Watergate to Wedgiegate," May 15

Mitt Romney's recent remarks regarding the childish incident that occurred 40 years ago while he was still a very young man indicated his lack of oratorical skills and proved once again the ineptness of the Republican Party in choosing a real leader and statesman to lead the charge.

Barack Obama's closet is full of skeletons that were never exposedduring his campaign. Rather than address the issue straight on, Romney acted like a milquetoast wimp by saying he was sorry if he hurt anyone in an incident he did not recall.His response was both ridiculous and contradictory.

Instead of giving credibility to the story, he should have merely said that this was a ploy by the major media to make him appear as an arrogant bully and hence not worthy of any rational consideration.The story, which was intended to maliciously reflect upon Romney's character, has no bearing on who he is today.

But Romney doesn't have the vim, vigor or directness of a Ronald Reagan. In order to overcome his appearance as Mr. Daddy Goodshoes, Romney has to rely on whatever debating skills he still has on the back burner, which have not yet been revealed.

The GOP should let Gingrich do the debating while Romney runs for the presidency.

Dino Vinciguerra

Forestville, Md.