The McDonald’s spat is petty and unpersuasive
Nutley, N.J.: I found Ken Frydman’s essay (“Trump’s McDonald’s visit puts Harris in hot oil,” op-ed, Oct. 23) difficult to give credence to on several levels. First is his skepticism over the truthfulness of an innocuous reference to a summer job at McDonald’s. His demand that “her campaign should have provided proof by now” for a temporary job Harris held 41 years ago is absurd. I wonder how many of us could provide that kind of evidence.
Second, his insinuation that her opponent had somehow outfoxed her by putting on an apron and harvesting a few bags of McDonald’s fries isn’t true. It was a stunt and not a very effective one at that. Third, is Frydman aware of the thousands (yes, that’s not a misprint) of lies, half-truths and exaggerations that Donald Trump has spoken over the years? A recent example: Trump’s continued attacks on the Central Park Five, all of whom were exonerated years ago.
What is most troubling about the whole episode, though, is the level of attacks, and Frydman’s assertion that Kamala Harris must answer them, regardless of their merit.
Clearly, Harris’ experience at McDonald’s has nothing to do with her qualifications for the presidency. I could buy Frydman’s claim that Harris’s reference was an effort to reinforce her working-class roots to, in a way, personalize her, but his statement that Harris “handed him [Trump] one of the greatest campaign photo ops in political history” is a laughable conclusion. Please, show me one undecided voter who was swayed by the image of Trump, the Ivy League graduate, the billionaire scion of a hard-knuckled real estate developer, handling a bag of french fries. Peter Griswold
Lurch to the right
Brooklyn: Kamala Harris now wants to build the wall. She loves fracking. She’s totally against Medicare for all. She has adopted so many right-wing policies that the whole Cheney family is voting for her. Frank Congiusta
Color of choice
Ossining, N.Y.: To Voicer Martin Smith, who takes issue with some people referring to Trump as “orange man” and suggests we call Kamala Harris a “woman of color” because he says that was her “only qualification to be vice president”: The double standard is galling. She was a prosecutor, state attorney general, U.S. senator and vice president. What were Trump’s qualifications? A game show host; a six-time bankrupt businessman; a coddled daddy’s boy who was handed millions of dollars and lost most of that; a guy who was always bailed out of his failures. And Harris doesn’t need to be identified as what she naturally looks like. Trump slathers on orange pancake makeup, dyes his hair an unnatural color and wears a girdle thinking we are all too stupid to notice he’s pale, obese, and goes through elaborate styling and combovers to get his hair to look the way it does. Everything about him is a fraud. Robert Rundbaken
No negotiator
New Rochelle, N.Y.: You can’t be serious! Can you imagine Harris sitting down with China, Russia or North Korea to prevent a World War III? She would be a laughingstock and make us look like putty! We need to put someone in office who knows what’s happening. All she does is laugh! Dom Mastropolo
Told on himself
West Babylon, L.I.: Recently, during his debate with JD Vance, Tim Walz stated on national TV to millions of viewers that he is a “knucklehead.” Now, no one knows Walz better than Walz, so I tend to believe him. My only fear is that if Harris and Walz were to win the election and something were to happen to Harris, do I really feel confident having a self-proclaimed knucklehead running my beloved country? Phyllis Russo
Uninspiring
Linden, N.J.: Isn’t Harris tempting fate? Hillary Clinton’s running mate was also a relative unknown named Tim. And why did Harris pick a Minnesotan? Minnesotan Vice Presidents Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale both lost their bids for the presidency. The only state Mondale won was his own, and by fewer than 4,000 votes! Ron Jackowski
As the least of us
Upper Nyack, N.Y.: When you vote — wherever in America — do it as if you were an abused, hungry, jobless, depressed, forgotten person of any identity with one hope: that somewhere, a child in need will be rescued. Call that child “Future.” Whoever will do that is your candidate. Art Gunther
Unsurprising
Bethpage, L.I.: Re “Eric Adams, mayor and defendant” (editorial, Sept. 28): Like Capt. Louis Renault would say, “I’m shocked, shocked that there’s another corrupt politician.” Richie Peterson
Unearned earrings
Flushing: I find it difficult to understand why men wear one or two earrings, as Mayor Adams does. To be entitled to wear them, you must have traveled the seven seas of this world as a merchant seaman. And at that, only one earring on the left earlobe. Very few, if any, can or have so traveled as a merchant seaman for a living in their lifetime. Charles J. Lercara
Family oversight
Little Egg Harbor, N.J.: Here we go again trying to fleece the taxpayers whenever some degenerate does something that an entire family could have prevented (“Kin to sue in boy’s death,” Oct. 25). Let us place the blame on somebody else by not taking any responsibility to act like human beings. It is a chance to get from the man because we are owed by the system. A person who has an extended family that does not give a hoot about innocent children who are being starved to death, while the people who brought them into this world are able to buy cigarettes, beer and drugs. Where were these family members coming out of the woodwork to get theirs when the kids needed them? When are they going to take responsibility for their part of ignoring their responsibility for caring for their family members? Rose S. Wilson
Out for cash
Smithtown, L.I.: We know what kind of lawyers Sanford Rubenstein and his partner Mark Shirian are to want to sue the taxpayers of NYC on behalf of the aunt of Jahmeik Modlin. But what kind of reverend would offer his services and advice, like the Rev. Kevin McCall did, and then dare say this is not about money, it’s about justice? The parents are being charged, reverend. They are to blame. That’s the justice. You’re looking only for money, just like the aunt, Rubenstein and Shirian. Shame on you. Andrew Ross
Plant-based problems
Manalapan, N.J.: Voicer Nelson Yancy suggests that with a plant-based diet, we can “enjoy safe foods.” The recent McDonald’s problem was traced to onions. Other recent ones were from lettuce and certain tomatoes. I guess we’re back to meat. Joe Fontanelli
Agency clarification
Midland Park, N.J.: To Voicer John E. Deichmeister: New Jersey’s equivalent to the federal EPA is the Department of Environmental Protection. Anthony Merlino
Hold your questions
Freehold, N.J.: Please stop with the in-dugout interviews while the game is in progress. To the knucklehead responsible for them: They are boring, annoying and distracting. And I say this with all due respect. Frank Rice
Shot in the back
Patchogue, L.I.: To Voicer Bruce McMenemy: You actually pointed out one of the many problems with our system in your letter. Why should anyone be forced to pay for a drug plan in addition to, or instead of, one they currently have? Just for one vaccine that is strongly promoted by the CDC and the medical community? Not to mention the manufacturer of the vaccine itself — we are bombarded with ads. Also, the shingles vaccines should not cost close to $500. However, there is no generic one yet. Why? Because the pharmaceutical companies have strong lobbyists and our politicians listen to the sound of money. Trudy Mansfield
Moral dilemma
Yorktown Heights, N.Y.: Just something for women to ponder. I do not know when life begins, nor do you. We all have our opinions. It comes down to whether we err on the side of life or death, doesn’t it? Mary Muller