Dec 9, 2017 4 min read

Editorial voices from newspapers across the United States:

The Anderson (Ind.) Herald Bulletin

At first blush, it was a story that likely made you snicker, giggle, maybe even laugh out loud.

Who could blame you? How could you resist this headline?

“Girl, 9, leads police on cross-county chase”

It’s fantastic fodder for late-night comedians, viral social media posts and that last spot on the nightly news where they try to leave you with a smile. But when you stop and actually think about it, this story could have ended very differently and very badly.

The unidentified girl was out shopping with her mother when she drove off in her mother’s Jeep. When the mother reported the theft, officers spotted the vehicle and began pursuit. Speeds to the “chase” reached 40 mph, and the girl was understandably “driving erratically.”

Think of all of the other vehicles, pedestrians, animals and property the girl passed. She could have caused a major accident, injuring or even killing others and/or herself.

The law enforcement agencies involved deserve major kudos for managing to stop the girl without anyone being badly hurt.

Texarkana (Ark.) Gazette

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate have a lot of time for backbiting, bickering and bluster.

But do they have time for kids?

The Children’s Health Insurance Program is a partnership between the states and the federal government that covers children and pregnant women from households that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but too little to pay for private health insurance.

Since its creation in 1997, it’s been a popular program in Congress, though some lawmakers have challenged CHIP as an unwarranted federal intrusion into health care and some aren’t happy with the cost. CHIP expired the last day of September and it looks like it’s been overlooked in the mess that has overtaken Capitol Hill. States still have funds to keep it operating for a few months. But they will run out unless Congress gets its act together and reauthorizes CHIP.

Right now, pregnant women and families with qualifying children are in limbo. They have no idea what the future holds for their health care. Both Republicans and Democrats say they are committed to helping children. The question is whether they will do more than talk. CHIP needs to be a priority, not an afterthought. For those who oppose the program we can only ask what they are going to do about the millions who depend upon it?

Telegram & Gazette, Worcester, Mass.

We won’t pretend to know what’s going on in the head of Alabama’s senatorial candidate Roy Moore. In fact, for this purpose we’re not here to determine the truth behind the claims of sexual misconduct involving young teenagers when he was in his 30s.

What compels us to speak out are comments from some of Moore’s supporters who are dismissive of the claims but also justify them if they are true, defending what the now-grown women have accused him of. We speak specifically of statements like this from Alabama state auditor Jim Zeigler: “Also take Joseph and Mary. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter. They became parents of Jesus. There’s just nothing immoral or illegal here. Maybe just a little bit unusual.”

Really? What is there to say after a comment like that?

Whether or not Ray Moore did what he’s said to have done, Zeigler is defending such behavior by comparing the former judge to revered biblical figures and practices from 2,000 years ago and giving him a pass on the alleged actions, and thus giving the same sort of pass to anyone having relations with an underage girl. It’s sickening.

It’s an interesting time we’re living in. It seems that allegations against politicians and Hollywood figures are coming out daily. We may even be starting to become numb to all the bad behavior.

Sometimes allegations are really just that, allegations. And while some people may ultimately be wrongfully accused, what we’re talking about here concerns people – hopefully no more than a few – who have come out publicly in various media interviews defending sexual misconduct. It’s disgusting and unbelievably irresponsible.

Maybe these defenders of the indefensible in Alabama are so wrapped up in political partisanship that blind allegiance is the only avenue available to them.