Biden was right in noting dangers

The two letters attacking President Joe Biden’s prime-time speech as divisive show the danger that former President Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans are to our democracy [“Biden speech incurs blowback from right,” Letters, Sept. 6]. The writers believe Biden’s remarks meant anyone who voted for Trump was a threat to democracy.

Biden clarified his remarks and said they were directed at only “Make America Great Again” Republicans who believe the “Big Lie” about the election and that the Jan. 6 insurrection was acceptable as a political demonstration, and who support the election of state attorneys general who will ensure voting rules favor the election of Republican candidates.

As for divisive rhetoric, Biden’s speech merely pointed out what is obvious to anyone who listened to Trump’s recent attacks on our government institutions in response to the FBI seizure of government documents from his Mar-a-Lago home. He called Biden “an enemy of the state” and the FBI and the Justice Department “vicious monsters.” Really? As president, Trump also denigrated our government institutions.

— Robert Ambrose, Medford

I am a lifelong Republican who was not upset with President Joe Biden’s speech. He did not paint all Republicans with the same brush. Rather, he pointed out some of the absurdities espoused by the MAGA wing of my party.

I do not personally know any Republican who considers the people who attacked the Capitol as “patriots.” One lives in my community and was sentenced to 41 months in prison for his actions there.

The idea that Biden is “not helping this country come together” is mind-boggling compared with former President Donald Trump’s attacks on the police, FBI, Justice Department and U.S. military.

 — Paul Murphy, Farmingdale

President Joe Biden should have been more focused in his comments, but he addressed a real issue. I know good, patriotic people who voted once for former President Donald Trump, but once was enough to convince them they’d made a mistake.

Someone is a threat to this country by supporting the person who has attempted to overturn a federal election, encouraged an insurrection and, at best, mishandled national secrets.

Someone is a threat if that person apparently has no problem with a president who appears to have threatened governors and secretaries of state to “find” votes for him.

This is about the rule of law and upholding an oath to defend the Constitution regardless of personal benefit.

 — Cynthia Lovecchio, Remsenburg

A writer suggested Democrats are the real threat to democracy. This is who is a threat — any MAGA person who votes for someone who lies about his predecessor’s citizenship; attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act that would cause millions to lose their health care; claims without evidence during the 2016 campaign the election was rigged; claims the 2020 election was rigged; claims there are good people among neo-Nazis and antisemites; lies with impunity; promotes white supremacy with his rhetoric; and admires adversaries.

  — Ernie Rudloff, Plainview

The MAGA supporters are very much a threat to democracy because they show no respect for the Constitution or the rule of law. More frightening is that elected Republicans are repeating the threats of violence. President Joe Biden was right to call them out. Many who voted for former President Donald Trump understand the threat from these extremists. Both liberals and conservatives are needed in Congress. But insurrectionists are not.

— Richard Posner, Ridge

President Joe Biden has attempted during his entire political career to bring various factions in America together to promote democracy, whereas former President Donald Trump has, even before his presidency, divided the American electorate into two disparate camps — those who support him against those who do not. His inauguration speech noting “American carnage” was an example of his dark, pessimistic view of the country and seems an actual premonition of the Jan. 6 insurrection.

— Sherry Eckstein, Huntington

The two readers’ letters were as offensive as the writers found President Joe Biden’s speech. This country has been subjected to the most vile and inflammatory defamation of Biden and other Democrats for almost two years at Trump rallies.

 — Lucy Protosow, Mount Sinai

President’s speech an insult to millions

I was very offended by President Joe Biden’s speech calling Republicans who support former President Donald Trump a threat to democracy [“Democracy is ‘under assault,’  ” News, Sept. 2]. That is an insult to millions of Americans. Biden promised to unify the country, but often does the opposite. It seems to me that the danger to our democracy comes from the radical left.

 — Rosemary D’Antoni, Sayville