Trump’s racism toward the Obamas is no surprise
Rockaway: President Trump continues to show America who he is. I wonder if anyone who is Black or Brown was surprised that he allowed that shameful depiction of the Obamas to be disseminated. If you were surprised, then I think you’re part of the problem facing this country with the current president.
Trump’s history of racist tactics dates back to the 1970s, when the Trump Organization was sued by the Department of Justice because it would not allow Black people to rent in their apartment buildings. I always interpreted the phrase “Make America Great Again” to mean that he wants a time when Black and Brown people were considered inferior to white people (even though we were not). To me, that slogan has been a clear message to his supporters that he is going to marginalize and dehumanize people of color.
His disdain for Black people continues. I do not remember seeing or hearing Trump participating this past MLK Day in any time-honored traditions by both Democrat and Republican presidents of honoring this great African-American man. He will never apologize or make any public statement denouncing that insulting and demeaning picture because he agrees with its premise. Kudos to former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama for showing class and not responding to this insecure, ignorant symbol of racist hatred. Anthony Johnson
Deeply indecent
Johnsburg, N.Y.: Mr. Trump, until your vile post about the Obamas, so many never fully gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency? Ed Collins
Save it, then strike
Staten Island: Trump is rebuked by the public and also by some of his colleagues for the Obama posting. Now, is anything done to castigate this man? My answer is no! My advice for all people who don’t care for him is to keep their mouths shut until someone has a method to get him out of office. Jeffrey Van Pelt
Home state
Lords Valley, Pa.: Since Trump was born in New York, I’m surprised he has not ordered the state to change its name to New Trump. He wants his name on everything else! Leonard Stevenson
Bigger problems
Avon-by-the-Sea, N.J.: On page 4 of Monday’s paper (“ICE stealth mode in Minn.,” Feb. 9), Luis Ramirez complains about tactics used by ICE agents. Where was his outrage when billions were wasted on Somali learning centers? Get over it! Robert Stiloski
Licensed to kill
Brooklyn: To Voicer Terry Payne: What led to the deaths of the two (constitutionally protected) protesters was not municipal immigration policy, but was the out-of-control, poorly trained federal agents set loose on the streets of Minneapolis with the knowledge that they would not be held accountable for their actions, no matter how egregious. If you support the Constitution, you know that has to change. No one should be above the law, especially government law enforcement agents. Ilsa Ruthen
No comprende
Yonkers: What am I missing here? Football is America’s No. 1 sport. English is the No. 1 language. It was thus neither logical nor reasonable that English was not the preferred language for the Super Bowl halftime show. Irrespective of the quality of the entertainment, the choice of language was an insult to the American people. Frank Brady
Enjoy or tune out
Brooklyn: I can’t understand why people were so upset about the Super Bowl halftime show. It was just 13 minutes of music that older people (mostly non-minority types) aren’t familiar with. So, like any other year, if you don’t want to watch the show while you eat your tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole, leave the room, change the station or (the best solution) have a conversation with younger members of your family to find out more about Bad Bunny, an incredibly successful musician with a universal message worth hearing. Ursula Kugler
Engineered EV losses
Purchase, N.Y.: To Voicer Dan Arthur Pryor: Some historical perspective will cure your pessimism about clean energy. After decades of being kissed up to by massive government support, our fossil fuel industries recoiled against President Joe Biden’s support to grow our clean energy sector. The fossileers threw in the requested $1 billion each to bolster Trump’s election, and he duly chopped off Biden’s clean energy investment and consumer credits for EVs, as well as heat pumps and solar panels. And your jaw drops at the auto industry’s losing money on EVs? I suggest you try some geographic perspective as well: Last year, China’s EV, solar, wind and battery industries turned a critical corner in energy production, and Canada has turned from old-style cars to EVs as well. EVs, along with offshore wind, are growing rapidly in Europe as the continent works to be independent of American fuel. Anne Sweazey
Mayoral duties
Manhattan: Voicer Robert Lobenstein blasts “the communist-socialist Mayor Mamdani” for missing Archbishop Ronald Hicks’s installation ceremony and asks what the mayor was doing. According to that noted left-wing source Fox News, the mayor began the day by hosting his first Interfaith Breakfast, took steps to protect city residents from ICE raids, oversaw efforts to provide shelter from the severe cold and congratulated Hicks. I’m pretty sure God was well aware that Mamdani was hardly “shunning Catholic, Protestant and Jewish gatherings, following his own anti-religious bent,” as Lobenstein alleges. I’m also pretty sure Jesus would put helping the cold and fearful above attending a ceremony clothed in comfort and splendor. Michael Barnhart
Give him a break
Brooklyn: Re “Mamdani snubs Archbishop Hicks” (editorial, Feb. 9): While I agree that our new mayor absolutely should have welcomed our new archbishop, I believe that the Editorial Board is making a bigger deal of this than is necessary. Firstly, none of us know if the mayor contacted the archbishop on Friday. Secondly, schedules are made in advance. And what may be trivial to you may be important enough to Mamdani to not be changed. Yes, I think he should’ve made an effort to contact Hicks, but we don’t know if he did. Lastly, you say Kamala Harris made a big mistake in declining then-Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s invitation to the annual Al Smith Dinner, which you call “bipartisan.” That couldn’t be further from the truth! Everyone knows and saw how Dolan kowtowed to Trump, chastised Harris and laughed at the inappropriate jokes his buddy demon-spawn Donny made about her. Who could blame Harris? Susan Cassano
Regrettable repeat
Bronx: Crossword II in Monday’s edition was an exact replica of Saturday’s puzzle. Who’s sleeping on the job? I guess the same people who don’t catch the spelling and grammatical errors. The Daily News should be embarrassed! Julie Reitano
