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Islamic candidate or Common Sense Candidate?
Editor:
Abdul El-Sayed is a puppet of Islamic organizations. Citizens must vote against him in the Nov. 3 election.
First he is a practicing Muslim. The Koran, holy book of Islam, says Muslims should kill non-Muslims. Remember 9/11/2001, 10/7/2023, and the recent FlyDubai near suicide jet crash, and and many other mass murders? Should citizens elect a politician who believes that? No.
Second, the media has quoted his slogans, such as: "Defund the police," "Cars are modern day cigarets," "I hate Mackinac Island," and "Football is based on toxic masculinity."
Third, he took $115,000 from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), according to the Federal Election Commission. Gov. Greg Abbott designated CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist criminal organizations and barred them from owning real estate in Texas.
A vote for Mike Rogers is a vote for common sense solutions to keep bringing factories and jobs back to Michigan.
Dan Troutman
Traverse City
Bergman’s words don’t match his actions
Editor,
I am a former teacher and a current resident of the 1st Congressional District of Michigan. When I taught, I would tell my students during elections not to concentrate of what ANY incumbent says they will do if reelected, concentrate on what they have DONE in the past. During this election, Jack Bergman has repeatedly issued inflammatory political ads, made false statements that attack the integrity of his opponent and make promises that, if reelected, will improve our lives. However, his actions speak differently.
His actions say this.
1. Voted to support an endless war in Iran, costing taxpayers billions
2. Supported a disproven theory that the 2020 election was stolen
3. Refused to condemn the pardon of hundreds of attackers on our Capitol on January 6. Attackers spurred by our current president, an endorser of Bergman.
4. In 2021, voted against the Covid Relief Act that helped millions with vaccines and funds to recover from a pandemic, although he did take credit for monies from the Act that helped Michiganders
5. In 2022, voted against the Infrastructure Act that pumped billions into needed repairs of our infrastructure. Again, he took credit for the funds from the Act that helped the First Congressional District.
6. And on a personal level, I have written his office over 20 times in the last 4 years. Each time I have asked for a response. I have received only one. The rest of my correspondence with him have been ignored. One of my requests was for help with a very serious personal matter. That, too, was ignored.
Bergman claims he will lower prices, reduce taxes and protect our rights. Are your prices lower now? Are your taxes lower? Is our deficit growing at an alarming rate? Has he continually supported a president that consistently erodes the right of Americans? If that is what you want, then vote for him. If you want better, send him packing. We deserve better.
Karl Gagnon
Traverse City, MI
Jail issue
Editor:
Anyone who has toured the current jail knows that a new jail is a necessity. The need will not go away over time. It will just become more expensive to build. Any lawsuit brought against the county over the jail will cost the taxpayers far more in the long run. It is inconceivable that the Republican Party which prides itself on fiscal responsibility should oppose the upcoming millage because the cost would be spread over 30 years. Most home mortgages are 30 years so that the cost would be affordable. The same is the case for the jail millage. We can no longer “kick this can down the road”. We have an appropriate property that is paid for and is not in the center of town and meets the state requirements for a county jail. For the safety of our law enforcement and community staff, as well as the inmates, we need to fund the new jail.
Donna Cole
Toivola
Bergman Unresponsive on Critical Commitment To Democracy
Editor:
Congressman Jack Bergman is difficult to get a public position statement on any major national issue and he refuses to appear in any open public town hall to be questioned. By his voting record, he supports Trump's Iran excursion (war), Trump's Canadian 50% import taxes (including hockey equipment), masked immigration agents assaults on US citizens and huge increases in the US deficit due to tax breaks for the very wealthy and corporations.
However, even more concerning is whether his loyalty to Trump will overcome his acceptance of the will of the voters in the coming election. I shouldn't have to, but to answer that question, I sent the following message and question to him on his congressional website on September 17:
"Congressman Bergman, on January 3, 2027, you, along with the other members of the current United States House of Representatives will have the responsibility of seating the newly elected house members of the 120th US Congress. Will you commit to seating all duly elected representatives (as certified by their respective states) promptly without any objection, obstruction, collusion or other hindrance regardless of political affiliation?
I ask for this as a public commitment from you immediately, because, if you will not or say nothing, I must assume that you could likely participate in the scenario outlined by former Federal Judge Michael Luttig in the New Republic dated September 10, 2026 'The Final Battle for America's Democracy' and end American democracy as we know it, by not seating the duly elected representatives.
I anxiously await a response."
Four weeks later, the only response has been acknowledgment of my submission.
In a true democracy, the only answer is: "Yes, I will seat any duly elected representative". The answer should be simple, immediate and given without hesitation -- it is not a complicated policy decision, but the bedrock foundation on which our democratic process exists. Where's Congressman Jack Bergman's answer?
K Steven Johnson
Calumet