D'Amato on split? This is why it's split
Former U.S. Sen. Alfonse D'Amato. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
D’Amato on split? This is why it’s split
While I agree with former Sen. Alfonse D’Amato’s lament that America is suffering from a lack of bipartisanship, I disagree that the “Democratic Party has veered so far left” [“Loss of bipartisanship is harming the nation,” Opinion, April 2]. D’Amato failed to mention that the Republican-controlled House and Senate created a divisive budget bill without any bipartisan involvement.
Democrats would have supported some spending cuts but were excluded from negotiations. President Donald Trump has done plenty to demean and diminish Democrats’ fundraising organizations, law firms and values. Have Republicans reached across the aisle?
Democrats must articulate a clear platform of reform and work across the aisle as Reps. Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen propose, but they need to be met halfway.
— Steven Greenfield, Baldwin
Protecting the health and education of Americans by dismantling health agencies and the Department of Education, putting unqualified people in charge and questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines are not areas of compromise. Or defunding the World Trade Center Health Program and initially firing its leader. Or firing tens of thousands of government workers, many of them veterans, and cutting valuable Veterans Administration staff.
How is there any way to be bipartisan in this era of anti-education, science and truth?
— Peter Goldstein, Westbury
I agree with much of what Alfonse D’Amato said about strident Democrats, but I fear that his garments are a tad too thin.
Republicans became the party of obstruction during Bill Clinton’s administration and continued the practice in lockstep forever after. As for Mayor Ed Koch crossing party lines by endorsing D’Amato, I doubt that he would endorse anyone who tolerates violent insurrection and empowers an administrative coup.
— James Moyssiadis, Mount Sinai
By blaming Democrats, Alfonse D’Amato has highlighted why neither party is willing to work with each other to find common ground.
— Lennard Axinn, Huntington
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