Smoky Mountain News

To the Editor:

The League of Women Voters is to be commended for conducting a forum in Franklin on Aug. 12 for N.C. State Senate and House candidates for the 2010 election. This allowed constituents to listen to the candidates in person. Although written questions were collected from the voters, time constraints prevented candidates from responding.

After the forum, I spoke with Rep. Phil Haire and Sen. John Snow, asking each how they proposed to bridge the budget gap of roughly $3.5 billion in the 2010-11 state budget.

I was shocked by their elitist attitude and overbearing manner. Rep. Haire, especially, was extremely argumentative and condescending. His only “solution” to the budget deficit was to blame Bush rather than addressing out-of-control spending and unsustainable financial commitments.   

If their replies had been videotaped, they would each have starring roles on You Tube. I advise everyone to speak with elitist incumbents only if someone is video-recording the encounter. Hopefully, the presence of a camera would encourage them to respond in an appropriate manner.

Gail Chapman  

Otto