Agassi race allegations shameful

To the editor:

I am a 53-year-old African-American male who has truly experienced much that life has to offer: some good, some bad -- and most people know that racism is the bad. But for anyone to believe that Andre Agassi dressing as Mr. T on Halloween is racist is ridiculous ("Agassi as Mr. T stirs controversy," Thursday Norm Clarke column).

We are talking about a man who is raising his children as we would wish all would raise their children. We are talking about a man who has spent the better part of his life truly changing the outcome for many underprivileged kids.

I am not talking about giving anyone a pass, but is race really what was on his mind? I would think he simply hoped to have a great Halloween costume.

Only the true hate mongers would attempt to make such an issue out of his costume. Take a look at him and you can see he took care in creating his costume, and most likely for that reason. Also think about this: This man has feelings. How do you think he must feel, doing all the things he does for society as a whole and then being accused of something like this?

I pray his kids do not see what simple-minded people will do with words with no regard to one's family. I have read his autobiography (and hope to one day get him to autograph it) and I can't think of any better way to end this than to say, "Shame on all of you."

K.R. Lewis

Las Vegas

Indigent fund

To the editor:

In your Sunday article, "Long-ailing UMC aims to alter image, add revenue," it states that UMC Chief Executive Officer Brian Brannman and others familiar with UMC "agree that attracting more paying patients and reducing the share covered by Medicaid or who are indigent will be essential to financial viability."

One revenue source that has helped Nevada's hospitals, including UMC, offset some of the costs of treating indigent persons is the Fund for Medical Care to Indigent Persons. Beginning in fiscal year 2009, however, nearly all of the revenues in the fund have been redirected by the state to help balance its budget.

In fiscal year '08, the last year before revenues were redirected, $25 million was paid for indigent medical care in Nevada, including $14 million to UMC. Half of the amount UMC received was for treating persons injured in motor vehicle crashes. As UMC is the only Level I Trauma Center in Nevada, it stands to reason that the amount UMC received represented 73 percent of the total payments made from the fund for treating indigent accident victims in Nevada and 91 percent of payments made to all hospitals in Clark County.

The Fund for Medical Care to Indigent Persons represents a successful public-private partnership that was initiated by counties and hospitals more than 25 years ago to address a growing need and is supported by a special 2.5-cent property tax levied by all 17 counties. It is the payer of last resort, and restoring the fund so that it can be used for its intended purpose would help University Medical Center and other Nevada hospitals pay for the cost of treating medically indigent persons.

Jeffrey Fontaine

Carson City

The writer is executive director of the Nevada Association of Counties.

Cain troubles

To the editor:

First, full disclosure. I am a Herman Cain supporter and I am active in his Nevada campaign. These comments, however, are my own.

We all accept that sexual harassment in the workplace is wrong. But do we all agree on what constitutes sexual harassment?

A friend who was an airline pilot, for years a male occupation, found himself flying with a female co-pilot. Female pilots were relatively new at the time and the employer airline had issued detailed guidelines about sexual harassment. During cockpit conversation, my friend asked the female co-pilot how she defined sexual harassment. "It's whatever I say it is. If it makes me uncomfortable, that's harassment." From an enforcement viewpoint, that's a very vague -- and subjective -- definition. But sexual harassment is a charge assumed true unless proved otherwise. It's not uncommon for large organizations to settle such claims in the least-cost manner, usually a cash settlement to avoid expensive litigation.

In Mr. Cain's case, the allegations first surfaced in an article completely lacking in detail or sources. Mr. Cain's somewhat hesitant reactions may have fed the media frenzy. But after several days of intense coverage we have not seen sources named, nor seen any of the alleged victims come forward, nor seen any details of the allegations.

But we have seen saber-rattling by attorneys who may sense a payday. We have seen evidence of involvement by other political operatives. And we have seen character witnesses come forward in Mr. Cain's defense.

I suggest we all take a deep breath, step back and look at Mr. Cain in totality. Are these charges really consistent with what we see?

Robert R. Kessler

Las Vegas

Tip thief

To the editor:

I must respond to Albert Levitt's Thursday letter. He mentions how Steve Wynn and Rep. Shelley Berkley had different recollections about a conversation they had on ObamaCare, and he says one of them has to be lying. He wonders if the liar is Rep. Berkley, whom he calls a career politician, or Mr. Wynn, whom he describes as a businessman who has created tens of thousands of jobs.

He suggests the culprit is Rep. Berkley.

Well, how about the Steve Wynn who takes money on a daily basis from his dealers in order to give a raise to his managers?

Hmm?

Pennie Mattera Frenza

Las Vegas