I am a staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton, and I hope she becomes the eventual nominee. However, I can't believe that any Democrat would likely cast a vote for John McCain rather than Barack Obama, as some have said they would. Are they crazy?

Why not just give George W. Bush another term? We as Democrats have to come together in November, whoever is the nominee. That's how the GOP does it. I know a lot of Republicans don't really like Sen. McCain, but they will vote for him because he is their choice on the ballot.

We must stay strong, stick together and come out winners. Let's not cut off our noses to spite our faces!

C. HUGHES
Ellwood City

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I am an inspector of elections at a small precinct in Armstrong County. I left our polling place Tuesday night feeling heartsick. Hillary Clinton was referred to as the "B" word more than once and Barack Obama was referred to by the "N" word twice that I heard.

These comments came from people (Republican and Democrat) who proudly wear their flag lapel pins or profess their patriotism in other ways. I hope that by November my enthusiasm for this historic election will have returned. Right now, I'm just sad.

LINDA S. BODNAR
Yatesboro

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I look upon the primary results with dismay, due to the fact that Barack Obama lost, in part, for the wrong reasons: namely, racism and the fanatical politics of the Republican Right.

I was told Monday by a friend from Armagh, Indiana County, that he'd been hearing it all the time: "I won't vote for that n-----!" That's very sad.

However, that a portion of the population would unethically switch parties solely for the purpose of rigging a primary vote is clearly reprehensible and should be condemned everywhere. This is something I consider unthinkable. That it has gone on quietly, with no response from the majority, is also reprehensible.

This is the kind of thing that kills democracies, rots them from the inside out. This stands as an insult to all those real Americans who believe in the right of their fellow citizens to choose fairly, without interference, the candidate they feel is best qualified to lead.

Someone once said, "Every democracy carries within it the seeds of its own destruction." I believe one of those seeds was planted this election year.

TIMOTHY P. KELLY
Westwood

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Regarding the April 14 "Morning File" item "Dear Millionaire," suggesting that people making over $1 million kick in extra money at tax time to make up for tax cheats and deadbeats: Hey, PG, guess what? Those who have made something for themselves don't owe you or any of the rest of us a damn thing. This article made me want to puke. You basically want to reward the tax cheats and the deadbeats.

I'm by no stretch of the imagination a millionaire, but I surely don't expect anyone to pay my tab or give me a free ride. Your "entitlement" mind-set, and that of your fellow liberal Democrats, is a huge part of what is wrong with this country. People just like you ... people who believe the world and their government owes them something, that "someone else" should solve their problems for them.

Our government owes us security and the freedoms we have. That's it. God forbid it should happen, but if Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama is elected, you Democrats need to understand that checks are not simply going to start showing up in your mail.

We are all playing on an even field. Some people choose to work hard and possess the determination, resilience and perseverance to achieve success. There are far too many, like you, who have their hands out. The sooner every person learns to be accountable for his or her own circumstances the better off we all will be.

MICHAEL EVANS
Pine

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What happened to the privacy in "private voting"? I voted in the high school lobby and was fully on display. The "wings" of the voting machines do prevent anyone seeing my ballot, but the five lined-up machines make for a very uncomfortable situation.

Twice while I was reading my ballot, I was encountered by a friendly hello from passersby. Anyone in and around the lobby could watch me as I scratched my head, stared blankly, sneezed or made verbal remarks. People could see my hand positioning as I chose, and I did feel quite uncomfortable.

This is a very bad setup for voters. Can't we just have a curtain dividing machines so as not to be intimidated by the crowd? I'm all for the new machines, but a little privacy should be a common courtesy.

JOHN VINES
West Mifflin

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In reference to Dr. Patrick J. McMahon's March 31 letter ("Gender Matters"), is there no one willing to stand up in his defense and the support of traditional marriage, which has been in existence for thousands of years? Are we to stand by and allow the most basic building block of our society to be eroded by today's perverse thinking? I think not.

Marriage should be between one man and one woman, period. If two or more men or two or more women wish to live together, there is no law against that. Let them do so. But no way should those persons be afforded the dignity of legal marriage.

In the Book of Genesis we read: "Male and female He created them." Almighty God created Adam and Eve and told them to be fruitful and multiply. Yes, that was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!

PAT GANNON VOYE
Robinson

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I want to thank you for your April 14 editorial regarding the proposed marriage amendment ("Divorced From Reality: The Marriage Amendment Circus Comes to Town"). Specifically, I appreciate your pointing out how ludicrous it is to hold a public hearing on a bill after it has already passed through committee.

The state Senate Judiciary Committee voted on SB 1250 after only one short public hearing in March, without having heard the testimony presented at this hearing. Consider that comparable legislation in Ohio for a period of several years resulted in decreased protection for domestic violence victims who were not married to their abusers. This is just one of the many unintended consequences that could result from the bill's ambiguous wording.

Consider also that gay marriages are already illegal in Pennsylvania. Quantitatively, consider that a recent online poll in the PG found 68 percent of respondents in opposition to the amendment. It is time for our state senators to dismount the dead horse of bigotry and return to their jobs: improving the lives of all Pennsylvanians, not reducing some to second-class citizenship.

KRISTEN DANZI
Oakland

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I have a question for the banks of this area. When we make a mistake on one of our checks or are overdrawn, we are fined $30. What happens when the banks make an error?

I'm waiting for my $30. It seems fair to me.

LAVAWN MALLICK
Hopewell

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I enjoyed reading Ann Rodgers' fine article "U.S. Hoping Pope's Recruiting Pitch Leads to More Priests" (April 22) and have these reflections:

This aging Catholic has survived the reigns of many popes: thin popes, a chubby pope, gregarious popes and stodgy popes. Alas, never an egalitarian pope. I hope Pope Benedict's "dazzling" American visit increases religious vocations, but if it doesn't, I have a sure-fire fix: ordain women and married Catholics.

I know! I know! I risk having Beelzebub materialize and drag this heretic into perdition!

I sense the hand of God in the acute priest shortage and believe it will eventually force Rome to open the priesthood to all Catholics.

Many conservative Catholics will condemn me for this opinion (mostly men, I expect), and I'd like to bet them two angel food cakes and a tub of Philadelphia Cream Cheese that I'm right -- to be collected in the afterlife -- against the joy they will experience when sexist Jesus confirms I'm in hell, enduring horrible tortures, for my evil views.

If I win, I promise not to gloat, and the only thing you'll likely hear emitting from me is an appreciative burp!

ROBERT BILLER
Fombell

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