Rebuffing Durbin editorial

To the Editor:

Thank you, Madison/St. Clair County Record for your opinion piece (June 26) about Sen. Dick Durbin and setting me straight on our system of democratic representation.

You see, for all these years I mistakenly thought we elect officials to represent our views (in Washington, Springfield or Edwardsville) rather than their personal opinions. I suspect Sen. Durbin may have been making the same mistake when (as you put it), "As Illinois’ tastes have changed over the years, so have Dick Durbin’s."

Shame on Sen. Durbin for trying to represent the wishes of the people who elected him to office!

Now that I have read and digested your editorial, I realize why President Bush is so popular among his supporters. Right or wrong, Mr. Bush stays the course. He doesn't let public opinion (or the facts) change his mind after he has it made up. Look at his stance on Social Security (private accounts) or Iraq (WMDs, 9-11 involvement).

Your editorial noted with contempt that, once the vocal majority expressed displeasure with Sen. Durbin's comments about conditions at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib, he had the audacity to apologize to those who were offended.

Shame on him again.

President Bush would never consider admitting he may have made a mistake.

Bob Slate
Decatur, Ala.