Experience counts

The Times’ endorsement of Rob McKenna for governor [“Rob Mckenna for governor,” editorials, Opinion, July 1] states that he “is no ideologue about taxes,” and yet that he “supports the two-thirds vote for the Legislature to increase taxes.”

Given the experience of other states — especially California — I think we need to look long and hard at any candidate who supports an ideologically driven plan that rejects majority rule and hinders our ability to adequately address the state’s long-term financial position.

I will be voting for Jay Inslee.

— Bill Glewicz, Woodinville

Wrong endorsement, again

Why is The Times almost always on the wrong side of an endorsement?

The very fact the Rob McKenna still calls himself a Republican calls into question his integrity. The record of Republicans the last few years has destroyed any credibility of the party as loyal Americans.

Their records as representatives, senators, governors and presidents are abysmal. It is very easy to blame most of our current economic crisis on them because the facts speak for themselves. Today’s moderate Democrats are more in line with the Republicans of old. It is rather obvious that your interests are not that of the majority of the citizens of Washington state.

— Dan Koebel, Seattle

A slap in the face

I am sad to learn that The Seattle Times has endorsed Rob McKenna. Regardless of any of his merits, McKenna strongly opposes marriage equality. This should be a deal breaker to any who believe in the dignity and worth of all human beings.

As the stepmom of a lesbian who would love to marry her partner, and as a friend of many lesbian and gay people who want the right to marry, The Seattle Times’ endorsement of McKenna feels like a slap in the face.

— Diana Roger, Renton

Can he be trusted?

The Times’ recent endorsement of Rob McKenna for governor was easy to follow, but I was surprised that there was no discussion of his decision to file a suit to overturn the health-care act.

He joined 25 other Republican attorneys general in this lawsuit, which was rejected by the Supreme Court. The Washington governor and the Washington electorate did not ask him to undertake this action, he made that choice on his own initiative. It was clearly a partisan act that was endorsed by the Republican Party.

I am not sure that if elected I can trust him to be bipartisan in the execution of his duties as governor.

— Bill Jessberger Edmonds

World experience needed, not tunnel vision

Penalized for being our congressperson!

So, Washington native Jay Inslee, who went “away” for 13 years to represent us in Congress, is penalized by not getting your endorsement because he didn’t hang around.

The Times likes the positions Inslee takes on war, environment, media and finance reform. Does McKenna support these important values too? Instead, it is touted that McKenna wants a two-thirds vote to increase any tax. There’s that fearful money word again! Tax!

Both candidates will work for better education in the state. McKenna is quoted as wanting a “world-class system.” Then, it would require the candidate who has been out in the world, who may not have tunnel vision, to do a better job.

Inslee doesn’t support charter schools; McKenna does. Years ago, as a retired educator of 43 years, I did too. But today, not so much; innovation can come from within the public-school system. There is a small chance that [charter schools] will increase takeover of public education by religious groups and corporations.

Vote for Inslee for governor.

— Pat Martin, Issaquah

Weak support for Rob McKenna

The Times said the choice between Rob McKenna and Jay Inslee are clear — no argument there.

As stated, Inslee has taken courageous and politically dangerous positions affecting lives and history. He has supported bold ideas on financial systems and is intelligent enough to know science when he sees it.

McKenna has supported throwing our state into turmoil with his two-thirds majority hobbling of our state Legislature, and shown an embarrassing misunderstanding of the U.S. Constitution.

And The Times supports McKenna. Why? The only reason you offer is that he stayed around long enough to develop his good-old-boy network? Because he was a “manager” while doing this damage? Seriously? That’s all you have?

Inslee supported independently owned media. That’s great until it leads to the ideological inbreeding your weak support of McKenna soundly demonstrates.

— Chris Smith, Bainbridge