To the Editor:

 You printed an interesting, however misguided, guest column in the Sept. 5 issue. John Beckman (“Proud to be an American … sort of,” www.smokymountainnews.com/opinion/item/8558) spends three columns lamenting the state of the country but then at the end admits he will vote for the President. Evidently, despite his frequent use of the internet, he has never examined the background and record of this president.

The corruption he deplores is all over this presidency and this administration.

So Mr. Beckman wants to be a proud American as our president “does by his actions not his words,” says he! Where have you been these nearly four year, sir? In the very first months of his presidency Obama made his “Apology Tour” to countries around the world asking for forgiveness for America’s bad behavior. Never mind that the USA has rescued failing countries, has sent billions of aid to help disaster victims everywhere and anywhere, has been a dedicated ally to countries in peril and has been an economic and lifestyle model to worldwide citizens. Do you see immigrants flooding to any other countries other than the good old USA?

Finally, Mr. Beckman refers to the “spin and obstructions” Obama’s opponents throw at him. According to my recollections it is just the opposite … the Obama campaign and PACs have thrown everything they can conjure up at Mitt Romney and now Paul Ryan. Romney is falsely accused of not paying taxes and causing the death of a cancer victim. According to the Obama machine Romney’s worst offense of all is being a successful businessman who has built his own success and that of others. This of course is outside of Barak Obama’s experience level since he has never worked in the private sector nor has he had any appreciable record of success … except of course to talk his way into the presidency of the United States.

 Finally, if you think all of the above is “opinion,” here is the Obama record from 2008 to the present. Sorry, but this is not a record to be proud of.

• Unemployment: 7.8% then, 8.3% now.

• Median income: $54,983 then, $50,964 now.

• Gas prices: $1.85 per gallon then, $3.78 now.

• National debt: $10.6 trillion then, $16 trillion+ now.

• Half of all Americans are now considered “poor” or “low income.”

• One out of every six Americans is living in poverty, an increase of millions since Obama took office.

• Food stamp usage has increased by 45 percent under this president.

• Average family health care premium costs have increased to roughly $15,000 per year.

Carol C. Adams

Glenville

Communications chairman, Jackson County GOP)