Unlike Toomey, Sestak would fight for Medicaid

I saw a photograph of a smiling Katie McGinty ("Joining Forces," Monday) one day after reading about Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) looking to cut Medicaid even further than area Republican representatives are willing to do ("Toomey targets Medicaid costs," Sunday). It brought to mind that the Democratic machine led by Rep. Bob Brady chose McGinty, a well-meaning but inexperienced novice, over an experienced politician and campaigner in Joe Sestak, in last year's primary.

Because Sestak has an independent streak and is his own man, he did not fit the profile the Democratic Party was looking for. If the party had chosen him, I might have been reading about how Sen. Sestak was rallying for more Medicaid, rather than seeing it diminished by the Republicans.

— Robert F. Lemoine, Wyndmoor

The Book of Judith has inspired artists for centuries to create images that depict the decapitation of Holofernes. Renaissance and baroque paintings tell the story of gender transgression – with a woman taking on the attributes of masculine power to defeat a male predator.

Reactions to the most recent representation of the story — with comedian Kathy Griffin taking on the role of Judith and President Trump's severed head as Holofernes — illustrates a potent use of caricature to illuminate a key thread in the unfolding story of the Trump tale ("Griffin's bloody Trump head post was just wrong," Wednesday). The lack of a critical historical context to the conversations generated by the image are troubling. They ignore the earlier representations, developed long before "left" and "right" were invented to describe political divisions.

The contemporary issue makes gender, sexuality, and power the center of the narrative of the current presidency. Critics are not dealing with the argument of the image. We are not grappling with the problem raised for the spectator/viewer. The image calls for debate, but one that is more robust, thoughtful, and reflective than the dismissal of the work as merely out of bounds or over the top.

— David R. Applebaum, professor emeritus, Rowan University, Glassboro

In the excellent article about Pennsylvania's death penalty ("Awaiting a verdict on death penalty," Tuesday), Richard Long of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association complained about the length of time a state task force is taking to issue a report on the fairness of executions. It should be noted that the DAs Association is a member of the committee. Long also opined that, based on the makeup of the group, the result is somehow preordained.

I would suggest that he look at the composition of his organization. With the demise of Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams, the remaining 66 members are all Caucasian, and 80 percent are males. This is one of the last bastions of white male supremacy.

Perhaps a more diverse group of district attorneys would lead to a better and more just result.

— Angus Love, executive director, Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project, Philadelphia, alove@pailp.org

Gov. Christie's lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno, is wrong to describe her main conservative opponent for governor as "High Tax Jack Ciattarelli."
Ciattarelli is an MBA/CPA whose business grew without government contracts or political favors. He cut spending on his borough council, as Somerset County freeholder director, as a state assemblyman — and in his successful business. His tax-cutting plan is real and specific.

Ciattarelli's tax-cutting plan includes getting rid of special deals and tax breaks for a handful of political power brokers and their insider clients and friends. Only they will pay more.

— Seth Grossman, Somers Point, N.J., sethgrossman49@gmail.com

I wholeheartedly agree with your endorsement of former Ambassador Phil Murphy for New Jersey governor ("Murphy best Democrat," Tuesday). He possesses the intellect, the independence, and the management skills that are necessary to be governor of the state. Most important to me is that, unlike Gov. Christie, Murphy works in a very collaborative way that will be critical when tough choices need to be made. Instead of an "us vs. them" philosophy, he will bring people to the table and discuss possible solutions.
After eight years of Christie and his go-it-alone approach, I urge my fellow Democrats to support Murphy in the primary on Tuesday.

— Steven M. Clayton, Ocean, N.J.