To the editor:

These comments concern Scott Burkhart’s Sept. 10 letter. The letter Mr. Burkhart finds so upsetting was written in response to another accusing liberals of Bush-bashing because the president “is a Republican, a conservative and a Christian.” My letter spoke to each characterization, making it clear that the Bush version of these ideals is at issue. I pointed out that the Republican Party platform is extremely conservative in its 94 pages of Bush campaign slogans.

To avoid the “intellectual dishonesty” Mr. Burkhart thinks defines the left, I decided to research the Federalist Papers he cites regarding the role of religion in determining policy. The 85 letters to the people were published in 1787 arguing for the proposed Constitution. The titles gave no indication of religious content, so I focused on No. 10, the most frequently cited. It defends the principles of representation set out in the Constitution to avoid problems with factions arising from conflicting opinions. The only reference I found to religion was the example of foreseeable dangers: “A religious sect may degenerate into a political faction.” The Bill of Rights addresses separation of church and state.

“In God We Trust” was placed on currency in 1864 to avoid future blame for the Civil War falling on a “nation of heathens.”

You missed my point concerning Bush’s response to the 9-11 attacks; he wasn’t exposed to the horrendous reality until after he left the classroom. Your other comments fall into the category of differing opinions.

Lisa Bailey,

Lawrence