RE “CLINTON’S risky embrace of Obama’’: Hillary Clinton has unified her party and made it less tolerant of opposing ideas by following Bernie Sanders to the left. In fact, Democrats are now bubble-wrapped, insular to a degree not seen in decades. They eschew uncomfortable discussions (such as those about terrorism), identify the wealthy as proximate enemies, and extol Barack Obama while criticizing his economy, tax policies, and approach to higher education.

Why embrace him? Well, while about 70 percent of the country believes the United States has been on the wrong track under Obama, about 50 percent like him. And Clinton, stiff, strident, humorless, and distrusted by two of every three Americans, needs a hug.

Paul Bloustein

Cincinnati