Teachers union should drop lawsuit

To the editor:

Lynne Warne, president of the Nevada State Education Association, has made a serious mistake in representing the teachers union as united in the lawsuit brought against the Democratic Party over the Culinary union at-large caucus plan (Monday Review-Journal). I used to be a hotel and restaurant worker, and although I am now a teacher and NSEA member, the five individuals bringing this lawsuit do not represent me -- the rank and file.

There is literally no other way folks would get to caucus were there not this forum, and our union has shrunk to a new, all-time low when we use our resources to block the votes and democratic participation of low- and moderate-income people, women and people of color.

I am very angry and considering dropping my membership in NSEA. With leadership like ours, how can we possibly believe that we could ever teach our students to be involved in the democratic process? Without unions, many of us would not be where we are today, and I for one feel totally betrayed. This lawsuit should be dropped immediately.

A vote should have been called before a decision like this was made and represented as coming from "the teachers union" in the press. Our leadership is running things from the top down, based on the beliefs of only a handful of people. It is not in the spirit or nature of solidarity that union representation is built on. I apologize to the Culinary membership for the behavior of my leadership.

LAURA SMITH FILLMORE

GARDNERVILLE

GOP apathy

To the editor:

If I were a Republican in Nevada I would seriously consider changing parties either before or on Jan. 19. It appears that not only does the press not care about the state's Republican caucus, but the majority of the candidates don't either.

I would like to ask registered Republicans here in Las Vegas where and at what time does their party caucus on Saturday? My good friend -- a Rush Limbaugh man right down to the "ditto" -- only knows because I've told him.

The Democratic candidates care about your vote, now and in the future, and it shows. Do the Republicans?

JOANNE QUARZ

LAS VEGAS

Hillary fan

To the editor:

Nowhere is the press's bias toward Barack Obama more evident than it is in the Review-Journal. Every day we see front-page pictures of Sen. Obama with headlines shouting out his issues.

What do we see for Sen. Hillary Clinton? Her courting the Hispanic voters, something likely to have a negative effect in a state where immigration reform has a high priority.

And then I read a letter to the editor which includes the Limbaughesque comment that Sen. Clinton is "truly sinister." Totally indefensible, right-wing, sexist vitriol.

And why isn't the Review-Journal covering the real problem with the so-called Strip caucuses? Union members have to voice their opinions in front of other members or perhaps even a union official. Those who are for Sen. Clinton (and there are many) are feeling very intimidated by that scenario.

JUDITH CHLEBEK

LAS VEGAS

Media anointment

To the editor:

The media, including the Review-Journal, have been telling us for months that there are only two Democratic candidates for president: Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Polls and pundits repeat endlessly that it's a foregone conclusion.

But it's not the role of the media to manipulate the democratic will of the people. I hope caucusers will keep an open mind and compare the candidates on the issues. They may discover that the best candidate is neither of the media-anointed hopefuls.

Linda Turner

HENDERSON

Right man

To the editor:

In response to the Monday letter to the editor, "Candidates don't look all that appealing":

I think there is a candidate who looks the part, has done a great job governing a state, got the Salt Lake City Olympics out of trouble and has a great business sense. He is a great family man who isn't twice-divorced, who isn't an empty suit or ambulance chaser, who doesn't want government to control everything and who knows the United States is a secular republic.

He does have money and says he won't take a paycheck if elected president because he doesn't need it.

He doesn't have a short temper, nor is he thin-skinned, doesn't spin off into looney-land on a few issues, and isn't an actor.

He is a candidate who is down-to-earth, honest and won't ever have someone under a White House desk.

Mitt Romney sounds good to me and has my vote.

Connie Sandoval

LAS VEGAS