Endorsement or enforcement?

Friday, December 2, 2011

To the Editor:

The place to be involved in a primary race is New Hampshire, perhaps.

Elected officials of all levels, federal, state and local, feel they have the clout to publicly throw their hat into a particular ring.

No. That is NOT in their job description. They’ve been elected to represent the interests of their constituents; NOT to speak for them in such an arena as the presidential primary. It seems contrary to the purpose of the Primary where individuals have the opportunity to “speak” for themselves. Our state senator and even local state representatives have audaciously endorsed their own favorite publicly.

Instead, they can take their job seriously with humility attending to the common good and not participating in the popularity contest.

Some media have taken presumptuous steps by endorsing particular candidates. That too is beyond their scope of responsibility. Rather they could publish the issues at stake and then the various candidates resolve on them. Then the people can then make their own informed decisions.

ANITA HINKLE

Merrimack