Tucker Carlson's 'bad girl' analogy hurts

Tucker Carlson recently spoke about the presidential election as the need to discipline Democrats and the left in the same way as “Daddy spanks a ‘bad girl’. ”

This is so much more than a political metaphor. It requires a lot of attention and follow-up. This is a low-level example, even for Carlson.

The fact that people in Carlson’s Atlanta audience agreed with what he said is even more disturbing. Why did he choose ‘a bad girl’ and not ‘a bad boy’?

When he then said: “And no, (the hitting won’t) hurt me more than it hurts you,” it indicated an intention to inflict physical pain rather than a non-violent learning opportunity. Furthermore, using the ‘bad’ girl accusation is just as bad because the act a person can be bad, but the person isn’t bad.

A while ago I saw a woman standing at the cash register with a poster board. I heard the customer behind her ask if she was a teacher. She quickly said, “No.” About half a minute later she turned around and said, “Yes, I’m a teacher. I raised two children.”

If Tucker Carlson wouldn’t accept someone physically threatening him because he made a mistake, why does he say that inflicting physical pain is the best way to deal with an evil act by a non-evil person?

Sparing the rod and spoiling the child can be interpreted in different ways. But articulating the intention to cause pain through “forceful” hitting goes beyond just hitting. It’s abuse.

Madeline Schaeffer, Glassboro

Van Drew meets Trump’s hatred with silence

As Election Day approaches, some South Jersey residents are living in fear, but this is not new.

Local Jews, including myself, have witnessed a rise in anti-Semitism since Donald Trump was elected in 2016. Synagogues, college campuses, schools and private homes in New Jersey have been targeted with bomb threats, hate mail and anti-Semitic graffiti, including swastikas.

Last weekend, Trump stood his ground a hate-filled meeting with racist and anti-Semitic jokesas well as debunked accusations against immigrants. Trump has repeatedly said that if he loses the election, Jews (if they don’t vote for him) will be partly to blame.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., who is running for re-election, is silent on Trump’s abhorrent behavior. We all know Van Drew proved his obedience to Trump when he switched parties and declared his “undying support” for the then-president. But Van Drew has Jewish voters. Earlier this year, viz response to anti-Semitic acts on college campuses, he threw them this bone: “I will always stand with the Jewish community and the nation of Israel.”

How can Van Drew support the Jewish community if he remains silent about Trump and some of his supporters? Van Drew’s cowardice is shameful. Please keep this in mind when voting in these elections.

Lisa Parker, South Harrison Community

Note: In the November 5 elections Van Drew faces Democrat Joe Salerno and Green Party candidate Thomas Canavo.

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