I don't agree with the opinions of letter writer Sal Amico, but I would like to applaud him for showing respect for the office of the President. He consistently referred to "President Obama" even when criticizing him. Contrast this to nationally synidicated columnists in this paper who not once referred to the President correctly, and even repeatedly used his middle name for no apparent reason.

Disrepect for the office is not something new. Many columnists referred to the previous President as simply Bush. But what is more distressing to me are childish efforts to make fun of the President's name: ObamaCare, ObamaMama, NoBama, etc. I would have hoped most of us moved beyond such behavior after the eighth grade.

Of more concern are efforts to demonize the President as a man. In the years immediately following 9/11, some conservatives argued that any criticism of the President should be construed as treason in a time of war. We are still at war, but many leaders encourage beliefs that the President is a Muslim attempting to take away sabotage America. It is no surprise that with that type of win-at-all-costs political rhetoric we are once again seeing a tremendous rise in militias and hate groups.

Let us remember the last time conservatives tried the defeat the President regardless of consequences: the impeachment of President Clinton. Even though it was clear the Senate would not remove the President from office, the House voted for the impeachment anyway. In reflection, all this effort was expended during a time when Osama Bin Laden was planning attacks upon our country. The Republicans even went so far as to question the President Clinton's attempt to kill Bin Laden via cruise missle as just a political manuever.

So during this time, let's not only attempt to respect the office, even if we disagree with the President. But consider how efforts to demonize our President may be hurting our own country.

Ray Robertson

Cartersville