The real obstacle to voting representation for D.C.
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The Oct. 29 editorial "The Democrats' dodge on voting rights" was absolutely correct in pointing out that the debate over D.C. voting rights "isn't being seen as the civil rights issue that it is," and further, that congressional leaders are not "pressing members to put principle ahead of political interests."
The heart of this civil rights issue, however, is deeper than the immediate political calculations involving Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's bid for reelection, President Obama's involvement or the gun amendment that was attached to the Senate's version of the voting rights bill. The real roadblock to D.C. voting rights is that we are being held hostage by national partisan politics; our civil rights are in the grip of two parties, one seeking to gain two Senate seats -- eventually -- and the other seeking to prevent that.
This sad impasse will endure until the right solution is recognized: the restoration of our full voting rights through Maryland, which we had but then lost in 1802.
In case no one has noticed, we are not a state; we are a city, and a great one at that. And we can be that great city as a part of the great state of Maryland.
Lars Peterson, Washington
The writer is a member of the Committee for the Capital City, which supports giving D.C. residents full voting representation in Congress through Maryland's delegation.
