I need to clarify Adrian Osborne's attempt to blame the Republicans for our current oil crisis (July 2 column).

In his defense of Democratic policies he forgets that over a decade ago a Republican Congress sent Bill Clinton legislation that would have opened a small patch of the Arctic Coastal Plain for environmentally safe exploration. Clinton vetoed it.

Sen. Harry Reid, Democrat, recently said, "Oil is bad for you, coal is bad for you. It makes you sick." Reid is against all drilling.

Osborne then cites a bunch of liberal writers for liberal newspapers who disagree with the well-researched thoughts of Dr. Thomas Sowell, concerning the decline of black families in America, due to failed liberal policies. Nowhere in his article does he cite research to dispute Sowell.

Before affirmative action, my elementary school teacher taught us there are 50 states in the union. After affirmative action, a Harvard graduate and Democratic candidate for President claims to have campaigned in 57 states.

What produces an Adrian Osborne? I don't know. Some people just don't get it. I have a feeling that there must be a liberal club called: "If facts disagree with our feelings, we will stick our heads in the Sandhills."

Martin Samchalk, Pinehurst