Politics

The chicanery in the Maryland House of Delegates' Judiciary Committee last week was shameful ("Gun bill advances to floor of House," March 30). We watched the vote count on Eastern Shore Republican Del. Michael Smigiel's amendment to hold criminals responsible for their violent acts with firearms. What we saw was abandonment of any pretext of democratic process and a conscious choice by lawmakers to protect criminals over law-abiding citizens. It was shameful. Delegate Smigiel's amendment would have toughened the penalties for criminals using guns in violent crimes, and it should have been a no-brainer.

This week the AP Stylebook, the standardized style guide for newspapers and other publications across the United States, announced that no longer, under their rules, will it be acceptable to use the term "illegal immigrant. " AP Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll explained that the term "illegal" is incorrect when labeling people and "should describe only an action, such as living in or immigrating to a country illegally. " The change, proponents argue, is necessary because labeling individuals as "illegals" or "illegal" is an unfair designation that no other criminal or civil offender in this country receives.

I was quite puzzled by Dan Rodricks ' recent column on Dr. Ben Carson ("Ben Carson's biblically based conservatism," March 31). Why would an open-minded person such as Mr. Rodricks put down Dr. Carson for his belief in the written and spoken word of God? I respect Dr. Carson's Christian views and values, and I find it alarming how easily they were dismissed by Mr. Rodricks. G. Todd Guntner Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

As a post-World War II political activist, candidate, office holder and Republican supporter for the past 67 years, I have always believed in the two-party system of Republicans and Democrats. I believe in a political system consisting of "big tent" Republican and Democratic parties that, among other things, consist of liberals, conservatives and independent voters. However, for the past 40 years, the zealots in each party have rejected the emphasis on united parties in favor of fragmented "leftist" and "rightist" principles.

Former Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon should not re-enter the political world. If not for a particularly egregious lapse of common sense (thieving gift cards intended for less fortunate people), people would very likely remember her in a more positive light. She could have murdered another, and I believe I would not see her in a lesser light. If memory serves me correctly, Ms. Dixon pilfered the gift cards around the Christmas and Kwanzaa season. For me to think that she literally and figuratively stole Christmas or Kwanzaa from a child makes me nauseated.

This week, as the Supreme Court took up two historic cases pertaining to same-sex marriage, it's been an exciting time to be a college student. Huge numbers of young people on Facebook and Twitter continue to post pictures and status updates in support of marriage equality. Kids proudly walk around campus sporting red clothing in support of the Human Rights Campaign, a national organization that seeks to promote equal rights for gays, lesbians, transgender people and bisexuals. The enthusiasm, from the quad to the blogosphere, is infectious and inspiring.

Former Mayor Sheila Dixon plans to kick off a local foundation's speaker series next month as she weighs a possible return to politics, having completed probation on the criminal conviction that forced her from office. "This is the year I'm going to decide," Dixon said of her desire to run for office again. "I'm not going to hide the fact that I enjoyed what I was doing during my 27 years in public office. " Dixon, who in 2009 was convicted of stealing gift cards intended for the poor, is scheduled to launch this year's Associated Black Charities speaker series April 16. The series, now it its fourth year, also will feature talks in subsequent months by former Legg Mason CEO Mark Fetting and Robert M. Bell, the chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals.

A few weeks ago I received a plaintive letter from a reader, not for publication, who expressed disappointment that I sometimes stray from grammar and usage to write about politics. The reader finds The Sun befouled by liberalism and painful to read. The letter is a plea for me to stay away from political subjects altogether.  It does not come as news that some of my readers are conservative. Gary Kirchherr, a fellow editor, has never been shy about filing sharp comments on my woolly-headed views.

The House unanimously approved campaign finance reform Thursday, closing a loophole in state law that allows businesses to give far more than individuals can to political candidates. Without debate, delegates voted 136-0 to curb business giving while increasing donation limits for individuals.  The measure, HB1499 , was drawn up in response to changes recommended by a legislative commission that studied the state's campaign finance law. Under the bill, business owners would no longer be able to sidestep Maryland's campaign donation limits by giving to politicians through multiple "limited liability companies.

I read with great interest the Sun editorial, "Unbalanced Budgeting" (Mar 13). The sub-headline summed up that the difference between the two parties is so great that compromise seems impossible. Well, isn't that where the president steps in and brokers a compromise? The president, regardless of party affiliation, is the leader of our country and should put partisan politics aside to achieve consensus in Congress. President Barack Obama has proven time and time again that his first and only job is pushing the Democratic doctrine and maligning the Republican Party.