Review the facts first, and then criticize

Anita Hansen's Oct. 3 letter, “Obama's actions don't match his words,” contained too many allegations to rebut in one letter, so I must limit myself to two.

Hansen criticized President Barack Obama for keeping a campaign promise to his wife, to take her to a Broadway show if they won the election. Yes, they flew on Air Force One and had security detail - just like President George W. Bush had when he went to his Crawford, Texas, ranch for vacation several times a year. What is a president supposed to do, fly coach and take a taxi when he gets there?

Hansen accused the president of ordering all Christian symbols to be removed before he gave a speech on the economy at Georgetown University. Her clear implication is that Obama is an enemy of religion and specifically of Christianity (despite the fact he has attended a Christian church all of his life).

The truth: Presidential advance teams make the backdrops behind presidential speeches as neutral as possible - a blue curtain with American flags. That is the standard; it is not unique to Obama.

Before people like Hansen work themselves into a lather over nothing, they should look up basic facts. Bearing false witness against another, even a president you disagree with politically, is a sin.

Brian Ochs

Marion