I agree with much of your editorial "Mr. Obama gets four more years," Nov. 7. I, too, believe that Congress, Democrats and Republicans alike need to come to common ground with President Barack Obama. I also agree the Republican leadership needs to focus on the issues at hand and not how they do or do not impact the President. However, I do not believe you have appropriately interpreted the reason why Mr. Obama gets four more years.
The result of the presidential election is not a referendum. There was no ballot measure regarding economic ideologies to say yay or nay. In fact, the Constitution does not provide for referendums at the federal level. This is where I believe you are taking liberties with what the election truly tells us. It tells us that virtually half the country wanted to give the President four more years and virtually half the country did not.
You seem to believe, as do many of the news stations, the economic ideologies of both parties are truly understandable to most Americans. I don't agree. I believe the President has been given four more years because of the Republican Party's position on many social issues (abortion, same-sex marriage, immigration), the growing diversity of our electorate, and the President's charisma.
I also believe Mr. Obama needs to lead Congress to the common ground you speak of. The phrases "extend his hand — yes, one more time" and "he must invite them again" gives too much credit to the President, who in fact did not get results.
Good leadership gets things accomplished. I hope Mr. Obama will be a good leader for the next four years.
RICH GRANT
Glenmont