To the Editor:

I read your editorial entitled, “Don’t reverse the Bill of Rights.” It made me wonder. Did you write a similar editorial in 2011 when President Barack Obama suspended the Iraq refugee program for six months?  Did you write an editorial when President Obama, right before he left office, ended the 20-year-old “Wet foot, dry foot” policy that allowed most Cuban migrants who reach United States soil to stay and become legal permanent residents? Did any of the New York Democrats you mentioned make any statements, or introduce any bills to rescind Obama's orders?

Where was the outrage against President Obama in these cases? Where was the concern for those immigrants/refugees? Why does it appear that the only time Democrats, liberals, and the media become outraged is when an elected Republican takes similar actions with regards to immigrants/refugees? In the case of the Cuban situation, it isn’t even temporary. Because of President Obama's order, all Cuban refugees are effectively condemned forever to their Communist island prison.  

With this letter, I am not suggesting people shouldn’t speak up when they don’t agree with the actions of any elected official. I believe we all have the right to have and express our opinions, views, and concerns.   It is the glaring hypocrisy and double standard that is really difficult to ignore.

I, like millions of Americans, can tolerate real differences of opinions and priorities, but it is becoming more difficult to believe or respect those of you who engage in this hypocritical behavior. I believe a big part of the reason that there is a President Trump is Americans all across this land are fed up with this hypocritical and intolerant behavior by those in power, in Hollywood, and yes, the media.

And speaking of hypocrites, don’t even get me started on Governor Andrew Cuomo. Your article quotes him as saying, “We are a nations of bridges, not walls, etc.”  I can assure you he was not “building bridges” when back in 2014 when he essentially told all pro-life New Yorkers, we weren't welcome here!  Cuomo also recently said: “We are probably the most diverse state on the globe and it is the essence of who we are,” and “And we have no tolerance for intolerance, period. And that’s what we’re going to stand up to say.”

If all this weren’t so serious, his statement is laughable, since he himself has shown nothing but disrespect and intolerance for the views of millions of pro-life conservatives like me who are actually already citizens of New York State. Maybe he should survey these refugees he supposedly wants to welcome with open arms about their views on abortion and let them know up front that if they don’t share his views they are not welcome!

I, like millions of other Americans, voted for Donald Trump. We voted for the leader we felt was best qualified for the job. I think President Trump has gotten off to a great start. I hope that our country is safe and prosperous for those of us who are already here and can continue to welcome those who are fleeing from persecution, war, famine, or Communism. God bless President Trump and God bless the USA!

Catherine Cunningham

Voorheesville

Editor’s note: The focus of last week’s editorial was on how recent presidential directives left local leaders in the lurch as state leaders have opposed the directives. Our editorials often look at national or state issues through a local lens.

The comments from Andrew Cuomo that Catherine Cunningham is referring to were made in January 2014 during a radio program as he was discussing “extreme Republicans versus moderate Republicans” in the nation’s capital, adding there was similar internal discord in New York State. “Who are they?” Cuomo asked, referring to potential Republican candidates. “Are they these extreme conservatives, who are right-to-life, pro-assault weapon, anti-gay, is that who they are? Because, if that is who they are, and if they are the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York. Because that is not who New Yorkers are.”

Barack Obama did not suspend the Iraqi refugee program for six months as alleged by Kellyanne Conway; he responded to the 2011 arrests for terrorism of two Iraqi nationals in Bowling Green, Kentucky by temporarily requiring background checks on visa applicants from Iraq.