This is in response to Jyothi Karthik Raja's column ("Presidential candidates should not have to criticize Bush to uplift themselves," Oct. 29). While writing your column, you forgot to mention the tactics used by Republican President George W. Bush. I quite clearly remember Bush criticizing Al Gore multiple times during the 2000 election on issues including gas prices, fundraising and government hiring. I also can't help but remember the brutal war between Bush and his own party member John McCain.

I see no harm in criticizing the opposition. The Democratic candidates should be allowed to criticize Bush on extremely important issues such as the safety of our troops and making false promises to the American public. The statements by the Democratic candidates were not cheap shots or an attempt to tarnish Bush's image. They were only the complete truth about the most important issue the American public has been faced with in decades. The American public has a right to know not only the strengths of all of the candidates, but also the faults of the "man at the helm of the most powerful country in the world."