Guns and political ads in today’s letters to the editor.

Pick of the day: President’s speech taken out of context

In his Aug. 5 letter (“A conversation with Warner”), L.B.Hagen ended his well-written piece with the words “pathetic and sad” in reference to President Obama’s recent speech in Roanoke.

If Hagen had taken the time to either listen to or read the entire content of the president’s speech that day, he would realize that Obama neither said nor implied anything that mocked or rebuked the intelligence, innovation and hard work of business entrepreneurs.

Clearly what Hagen has read or listened to are Republican political ads and conservative writings of those who took portions of the president’s speech out of context and turned his words into something completely opposite of what was said.

It’s an all too familiar example of the Republican Party’s perfected strategy of repeating a lie often enough until it becomes the truth. That otherwise seemingly intelligent people can be duped into believing this kind of rhetoric time and time again is what I find truly pathetic and sad.

JIM CLIFTON

SALEM