Newhouse’s Obamacare position is ‘cynical attempt to divert blame’ | Opinion

Newhouse op-ed aims to shift blame

Rep. Dan Newhouse’s op-ed of Dec. 14 is a cynical attempt to divert blame for an end to Obamacare premium tax credits because It will be very harmful to many of his constituents.

His gaslighting is in the timing of “The Fix It Act.” The suggested remedies came purposely too late to negotiate an extension.

He and fellow Republicans have rejected initiatives for an extension throughout the creation of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill and have run out the clock on a temporary extension. The underlying truth is that the GOP wants to destroy Obamacare and replace it with nothing.

Newhouse and most other Republicans are tools of Trump and a predatory minority of super-wealthy Americans who don’t know and couldn’t care less what it’s like not being able to afford healthcare. OBBB also cuts $1 trillion out of Medicaid in order to reduce the huge deficit created by tax cuts to the wealthy.

Most of that damage will come after the midterms. Voters should believe Republicans when they say they don’t think the government should play a role in providing healthcare insurance to Americans and vote accordingly.

Greg Carl, Richland

My open letter to Rep. Newhouse

I appreciate your monthly newsletter, telling us what you are doing for the people of our district. But you never discuss important national issues and concerns.

I refer to the national disgrace occurring under President Trump. From murder off the coast of Venezuela, to forgiving convicted drug smugglers, to curtailing needed aid to the unfortunate here and abroad, and to abandoning the Ukraine and probably Taiwan, as well as our allies.

This latter new policy is apparently justified under “major power spheres of influence.” Rather, it is a show of cowardice by a President who does not want to oppose Putin. And never a comment from you.

It does look like the MAGA coalition, which has imprisoned the Republican Party, may be starting to fall apart, and perhaps the Democrats will capture the House in 2026.

If so, impeachment is sure to follow. I, and many like me in our district, would expect you to vote for Trump’s impeachment, just as you did previously, even though conviction by the Senate is unlikely. It takes courage and leadership, but that is what the times require of a person in your position.

David King, Richland

White racism is a stressful lifestyle

I have lived with Jim Crow, racism in segregated and integrated schools, communities, and work environments. I experienced first-hand the discriminatory effects of the White Supremacy ideology.

White Supremacy is a man-made product composed of governmental privileges and opportunities. It is not a genetic or intellectual characteristic of Caucasian people over non-Caucasians as many so-called White people are taught to believe.

There are public demonstrations for more White power as if White privilege doesn’t currently dominate all opportunity structures in America. White extremists appear threatened by the few educational, economic, and political opportunities won by minority groups.

Even the city council of Pasco, a majority-minority city, honored Charlie Kirk, an alleged anti-civil rights and MAGA racist. Research suggests that White supremacy ideology places a tremendous burden on those Whites who are average folks. For White men, trying to meet the societal “racist” expectation of being superior in their endeavors is very stressful.

When coupled with their ill-gotten governmental privileges and their whiteness, their failure to succeed can lead to suicide. They generally blame themselves or non-Whites instead of the American “racist” ideology that’s responsible. President Trump and the MAGA Republicans are eliminating many civil-rights gains to favor Whites.

Dallas Barnes, Pasco