Durbin should learn from his colleagues

Kathleen Parker correctly points out in her column how ridiculous it is for Democratic and Republican supporters to compare each other to an evil dictator like Adolf Hitler. She does, however, fail to point out that once again it was democratic leaders like Nancy Pelosi that initially tried to label the town hall protesters as Nazis.

While I would agree with Ms. Parker that both sides are to blame, shouldn't our leaders be the first ones to stop this ridiculousness, rather than being the ones perpetuating it?

Of course our own senator, Dick Durbin, did not label the protesters as Nazis, but he was not above a little name calling, referring to the protesters as, "birthers and tea baggers." Before coming back to Illinois, where he preferred to hide in his office, rather than meet with his own constituency.

I would suggest that Mr. Durbin watch how his fellow Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill from Missouri handled the protesters at her town hall meeting with calmness, dignity and common sense. While I might not agree with Senator McCaskill on all aspects of health care reform, she has certainly earned my respect.

As for Senator Durbin, I guess that as a veteran bomb thrower, he does not feel the need to get out and meet with a room full of amateurs.

Scott Schmidt

Arlington Heights