Where Trump Gets His Values

The Daily News published my letter on January 13, 2018 concerning President Trump's latest racist comment. During a meeting about immigration issues with several members of Congress, he was reported to have said, "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?" He asked this in reference to immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador and some African nations, and he wondered why there were not more immigrants from countries like Norway.

"To claim that President Trump's reference to some countries as a 'shithole' is not in keeping with American values is sadly mistaken. The voters who placed him in office will agree with the President's assessment of countries in Africa and Haiti, and they will hail his commitment to America first. This is what Trump's America values - wealth, celebrity and prejudice. And Trump will continue to represent those values as long a he is able to pull his nuggets of wisdom from his own hole."

Stay Classy

I was inspired to play off of some some recent Donald Trump tweets where he throws out an insult but then insists he would not say such a thing. The Daily News published an edited version of my letter on February 8, 2016. Here's the original version:

"I was going to say that Donald Trump is a narcissistic bigot interested only in seeing his name emblazoned on the White House, but I won't say it. I won't say it. But it's true. I'd like to use foul language and say he's a f-ing, pompous windbag whose cynicism for the intelligence of Americans is only eclipsed by his vanity, but I won't. No, it's true, but I just won't say that. And by not saying that, I have thankfully preserved my understated and statesmanlike demeanor."

Fair Fight

A hunter dentist who killed a protected lion in Zimbabwe sparked world-wide condemnation. I took the opportunity to comment and take a jab at the National Rifle Association, and the Daily News printed my letter on August 1, 2015. 

Marriage Equality Is Still Common Sense The Next Day

Metro also printed my celebration of the Supreme Court's decision concerning marriage equality on June 29, 2015. Unfortunately, their headline gave away the punchline. Ah well...

Marriage Equality Is Common Sense

The Daily News published my tribute to common sense on June 28, 2015. 

Did The Daily News Steal My Bill Cosby Quip?

I think The Daily News appropriated part of a letter-to-the-editor I sent on November 19, 2014 and used it, uncredited, for a headline on its Sunday Opinion page on November 23. It's possible someone else came up with the same idea as I did, but I can hardly be blamed for harboring some suspicions. Here's my letter (really more of a one-liner):

"I suppose the most generous characterization of the allegations of sexual assault against Bill Cosby is that they are a classic case of he said/she said she said she said she said she said she said she said she said she said she said she said she said she said she said she said." 

The Thing To Fear: Beer Itself

This letter came to me while riding the subway, and the Daily News printed it on May 5, 2014. amNY also printed the letter on May 8, but for some reason edited out the last six words. I think the DN came up with a pretty clever title.