Throughout this campaign for president of the United States of America, I have listened to many of my Republican friends sing the praises of our president. I have come to know these people and their beliefs very well over time as a result of many very personal conversations. Now, I am a Democrat, but for years one of my hobbies has been reading about political figures on both sides of the aisle.

So with all that said, I must say to my Republican friends that when I hear you defend the character and actions of our current president I can’t help but think of the words of William F. Buckley Jr., who said, “I am not going to insult your intelligence by asking you if you truly believe what you just said?”

Stanley Short Jr.

Pittsfield