Sen. Angus King’s comments, as reported in this paper, only added to the steam coming out of my ears after the recent capitulation by seven Democrats and Sen. King, an independent, to the Republicans’ mean-spirited agenda.

Sen. King justified his vote to undermine a unified Democratic Party strategy to leverage support of the Republican budget with an extension of existing health care subsidies for 22 million Americans with his unilateral assessment of the failure of this strategy to achieve success.   

What signs of success did the senator expect to witness that would give him half the resolve as was demonstrated by his own constituent communities? There citizens stocked food kitchens and prepared for a battle worth fighting. There Americans understood that enduring pain now served a greater cause against an opposition that is accountable to none, defies the rule of law, is indifferent to turning millions of Americans into food pawns, shorts pay and renders public safety into Russian roulette.  

As a man of business, has our senator not learned the most despicable behavior in confrontation often presages your opponent’s defeat? Or does Sen. King not understand what is truly at stake — and how much more difficult it will be to protect the vulnerable because of his own undependable behavior?  

It’s apparent to this voter that these eight senators have neither the leadership qualities nor the foresight to act in our best interests. Voters should look for better in upcoming elections.

Tom Myette
Southport