Dems must learn how to reach skeptical GOP voters

I have often wondered why Democrats (either in office or vying for office) and other liberals (journalists and left-leaning pundits included) do not seem to make much effort to reach out to right-leaning citizens where they live, work, worship, recreate and receive their news. It is all well and good for The New York Times, The Washington Post, and other left-leaning news outlets to publish left-leaning articles and commentary, but it is only preaching to the choir (“Democracy around the world is an endangered species,” Aug. 2).

What about using various institutions that appeal to the Republican voter (newspapers, news channels, churches, health care and community organizations, etc.) to spread the message about how we are better off now as a country than we were under Donald Trump? It’s time to follow Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s lead. I can envision an article published in a working-class local newspaper that carefully lays out how working-class citizens were better off before Trump passed his tax cuts but are probably not now — explaining how wealthy people and large corporations, and not the general public, benefited from his “so-called” reforms. Another article might let everyone know how many jobs have been created in which skill areas and in which states under President Joe Biden. The same can be done with immigration, crime and other social and economic indicators. In a well-laid-out recent analysis in The New York Times, Steven Ratner accomplishes just that. But again, it’s just preaching to the choir. If the Democratic Party is to succeed, we need to figure out how to communicate with all people in a way that respects and understands where they are coming from, assumes they are intelligent enough to understand our message and that they know that we have their backs.

Enough of the “East Coast Elite” mantra!

— Patricia Hawthorne, Baltimore

Biden on Mount Rushmore: a stone-cold bad idea

I almost choked when I read that U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi wanted to place President Joe Biden’s face on Mount Rushmore with those of former Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson (“Pelosi wants Biden added to Mount Rushmore: ‘Such a consequential president,'” Aug. 5).

What a slap in the face to the leaders who led this country to greatness. What has he really accomplished to help mold this nation? She observed that he has been a “consequential president” and a “Mount Rushmore kind of president of the United States.” This is without any factual truth. Biden didn’t get the nickname, “Sleepy Joe,” for nothing. Thank God this idea is not doable. Leave it to Nancy.

— Stas Chrzanowski, Baltimore

A pledge to join St. Ann’s

As a disappointed Catholic who feels the Archdiocese of Baltimore did not really consult the people in coming up with its plan to close dozens of churches, I was so happy to read of the effort of parishioners to buy St. Ann’s Catholic Church (“Leaders of Black Catholic church seek to buy building before Baltimore Archdiocese shutters it,” Aug. 2). I’ve been searching for a new home since the Seek the City closures, which will shutter nearly half the parishes in Baltimore, were announced. My parish was to stay open, but our beloved priest is being sent to Frederick. Having lost another wonderful priest, Rev. Joseph Muth, several years ago, this was the last straw for me.

I pledge to join and support St. Ann’s financially if the archdiocese does agree to let the parishioners purchase the building.

Otherwise, I may become a Quaker.

— Carol Rice, Baltimore

St. Ann’s for the first time

Thank you for your recent article about St. Ann’s Catholic Church in East Baltimore and the effort of its parishioners to buy the historic church from the Archdiocese of Baltimore. As noted in the article, the Archdiocese of Baltimore intends to close and sell the 150-plus-year-old church and merge the congregation with another parish (“Leaders of Black Catholic church seek to buy building before Baltimore Archdiocese shutters it,” Aug. 2). The Sun’s article compelled me to visit St. Ann’s for the first time. My first impression is that it’s beautiful. The interior of the church is stunning and very well maintained. The congregants couldn’t have been more welcoming. The “small but mighty” choir was impressive.

I hope the archdiocese reconsiders its closing or cedes to the congregants’ request to purchase the property.

— David Richardson, Bel Air