I recently submitted a letter: “Like Frisco? Then Vote Democratic” (The World, Aug. 6), regarding how America would look with the very liberal Obama as president and liberal Democrats running both houses of Congress.

I was immediately attacked in personal letters, online opinions and a letter submitted by Sharon Ramirez (The World, Aug. 12). Ramirez’ letter stated that I did not back up any of my statements with references. The reason I didn’t was the limited space available. Most of the evidence is available online or in recent news items.

Below are the references to the items mentioned:

San Francisco second highest tax burden in USA: Tax Foundation Web site.

San Francisco firearm ownership policy: San Francisco CBS5 News May 16, 2007. All guns must be locked up and inaccessible. That renders the gun useless. (Let’s see how fast you can open your gun save while someone is kicking your door in.)

San Francisco is a “sanctuary city” where illegal aliens who commit crimes are, in many cases, not prosecuted because to do so may expose them to deportation. In a recent event, a known criminal alien being protected by the city went on to murder three members of the Bologna family. San Francisco Chronicle, June 29, 2008. 

Obama has shown disdain of the military: In another broadly publicized  story Obama ignored injured troops in Germany when he discovered he couldn’t use the visit for a photo op.

Regarding the comment that I likely have never even been to San Francisco: I lived in California for 47 years and have visited San Francisco countless times. I saw it change from a beautiful city that honored and revered the U.S. military to a city where homeless people defecate on the sidewalk. The military is openly rejected by the San Francisco City Council as a matter of public record.

I’m not sure how to respond to the allegation that I have “been listening to hate radio,” because I’m not sure what “hate radio” is. I suspect it is free speech that Ms. Ramirez may not agree with. I seldom listen to the radio but rather spend most of my time working for a living.

I share Ms. Ramirez’s hope that our country can “come together.” However, I am not interested in “coming together” if this means forsaking my moral values or the Bill of Rights.

Daniel Cook

North Bend