I write in response to Charles Krauthammer’s Oct. 7 op-ed column, “If not for bizarre election, Obama’s legacy would be losing in a rout” (Page A9).

As he often has, Krauthammer condemns the Affordable Care Act as a complete failure. Then he even more loftily condemns what he calls President Obama’s foreign policy as “pristine and preening disengagement from the grubby imperatives of realpolitik.”

On the first point, I think Krauthammer’s condemnation of the present health care law is too extreme and suffers from “purple journalism.”

Consider some very good points for the law: (1) No one is to be excluded from fair coverage; (2) Fair portability of insurance plans is required; (3) Young adults may remain on their parents’ plans until age 26.

Additionally, and importantly, an effort has been made to subsidize coverage for the poor. Obama once quoted Woodrow Wilson, who said, “If you want to make enemies, try to change something.”

With regard to foreign policy, it is fair to take Krauthammer’s critiques as reasonable, even if one-sided. Obama has consistently tried to refrain from involving the U.S. militarily unless it was necessary to the interests of our country and those of the free world.

On every one of the issues mentioned, both sides have good and well-substantiated arguments. Unfortunately, for those of us who appreciate balanced editorial opinions with at least some deference to objectivity, Krauthammer again rushes forth with his biased guns blazing.

Jonathan S. Malev, M.D.

Scarborough

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