Bravo

Bravo for both Charles Maetta of Ballston Spa and the Daily Gazette, Mr. Maetta for his letter on Friday and the Gazette for printing it.

Democrats’ defection gets different reaction

Re June 9 article, “GOP grabs Senate power”: The contrast couldn’t be more apparent. Some weeks ago, Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat. The reaction of the media was one of joy and euphoria. Hallelujah! Now the Democrats have 60 votes in the Senate, enough to override any Republican filibuster. This means they can easily pass President Obama’s agenda and name any candidate to the Supreme Court without meaningful opposition.

Little notice was paid in the media to the fact that Sen. Specter’s switch was motivated by the perception that he would be defeated in a Republican primary next year. Few, if anyone, reported that Sen. Specter was at one time a Democrat who has switched party affiliation some years ago to bolster his political career at that time.

And they called Sen. John Kerry a flip-flopper.

In Albany recently, two dissident Democrats joined in a coalition with the minority Republicans, giving the Republicans a two-vote majority in the state Senate. The reaction of the media was one of outrage and disbelief. Illegal! This must be sorted out by the courts. These gentlemen were elected as Democrats and should vote with the Democratic majority. And, included in most new stories about this power play was the report that both of these dissidents are facing legal action involving alleged crimes committed in their private lives, so neither can be considered of great character by any measure.

We have not heard one word of outrage about the ensuing “lock-and-key” game being played by both parties while New York state sinks deeper and deeper into the morass of financial ruin.