Beto O’Rourke’s AR-15 heckler was a plant? Bud Kennedy must be smoking a different one

No, Beto’s outburst wasn’t staged

Bud Kennedy suggested Beto O’Rourke might have staged his response to a heckler, with zero evidence. (Aug. 12, 6A, “Bad word or bad acting? Beto O’Rourke spins 180°, shouts at Abbott sign guy over AR-15s”)

Gov. Greg Abbott told his volunteers not to go inside, so none would enter an O’Rourke rally? Have the heckling Abbott supporters at other events been actors?

Kennedy says O’Rourke turned 180 degrees to identify the heckler, as if this is an amazing feat? It was a small room, and it’s entirely plausible that it wasn’t the heckler’s first comment — and that when O’Rourke spun around, he saw people already looking at the guy and put two and two together.

The fact that he’s said something similar to another heckler at another event is not evidence or even indicative that this guy or the others were plants.

- Katie Martinez, Fort Worth

Go after Nancy Pelosi’s husband

The FBI should have had an explanation of its unprecedented raid on Donald Trump’s home ready to go. It’s like living in a communist country where the secret police go after political enemies. And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying no one is above the law? If that were true, her husband with his DUIs would be in jail.

- Kathleen Penak, Grapevine

Back the blue, but not this time

Why are Republicans so willing to look the other way and allow Donald Trump to commit crimes?

Can you imagine how they would have reacted had anyone found top secret documents at Hillary Clinton’s house?

Now Republicans are complaining about the FBI, led by a Trump appointee. The GOP has no respect and total disregard for law.

- Darrel Palmer, Fort Worth

Trump correct time and again

Ryan Rusak is correct about jumping to conclusions over the FBI search of Donald Trump’s home in Florida. (Aug. 10, 13A, “Neither Trump, FBI deserve benefit of the doubt in raid”) But it’s worth keeping in mind, with all the accusations leveled against Trump over the last six years, how many times he’s been right. And I’m not talking about his frequent exaggerations like, “It was a perfect call.” Compare it to Democrats arguing that we’re not really in a recession or that the border is not really a problem.

- Mark Carter, Benbrook

Priced out of the market

As the poet laureate of my youth once said, “The Times They Are A-Changin.’” Eagles tickets start at more than $300? In the late 1960s, I saw Jimi Hendrix three times in Dallas for a little over $20 — total. The third-show warm-up band was Chicago. Talk about baby boomer inflation.

- Jeff Cooper, Fort Worth

Keep feeding Texas kids at school

All across America, kids are headed back to school. Unfortunately, many will struggle with hunger as they re-enter the classroom, making it harder to start the school year ready to learn.

With inflation at a 40-year high, many families are finding it harder to buy food and pay the bills. School meal programs play a crucial role in ensuring kids have the nutrition they need to thrive in and out of the classroom.

But this school year, school meals won’t be free for all students. Parents and caregivers must submit an application to determine their children’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.

So be sure to fill out a school meal application. Nutritious school meals are as important to students’ learning as notebooks and pencils.

- Stacie Sanchez Hare, Director, No Kid Hungry Texas, San Antonio