Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/8847
6A – Daily News – Thursday, April 8, 2010 Opinion Mazzuchi D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 rebuttal Editor: Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. 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How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 I am writing in response to Richard Mazzucchi’s opinion col- umn of April 5, which seems to have been crafted to demagogue the Tea Party movement while simultaneously condemning the practice of demagoguery. As with most of the anti-con- servative, anti-Tea Party rhetoric being passed around these days the column bases many of its claims on specious accusations of violence and name calling. The story regarding alleged racial slurs hurled by Tea Party activists at Democratic Rep. John Lewis is of singular note in that the only corroboration comes from Lewis himself. It strains credulity to accept that such an attack could have occurred in the full presence of hundreds of wit- nesses and gone unnoted until Mr. Lewis happened to relate it to some sympathetic reporters who passed it on without seeking cor- roboration. Mr. Mazzuchi refers to some anonymous acts of violence — hardly a novelty in Washington — and then makes the absurd leap of connecting them to Tea Party members. Unless he has some information for the FBI we sug- gest that he refrain from accusing specific groups of anonymous crimes. The sole purpose of such unproven accusations is to redirect the debate away from the real issues. When you cannot win on merit, conquer through propagan- da. Mr. Mazzuchi says that Sarah Palin is “actively working to esca- late the violence” because she used the words “don’t retreat, instead reload.” By that logic, he would also be forced to conclude that President, then candidate, Obama was actively inciting vio- lence when he said “If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun, because from what I under- stand folks in Philly like a good brawl” at a fundraiser in Philadel- phia in June 2008. Several Black Panthers equipped with clubs were later confronted at a polling location in the same city intimidating McCain supporters. In light of this fact, we would like a public repu- diation from Mr. Mazzuchi of President Obama’s heavy handed Chicago-style intimidation of vot- ers. Having read a number of simi- lar columns from various authors we have noticed an almost patho- logical one-sidedness to their out- rage, which is to be expected when the intent is not the estab- lishment of civil society but the annihilation of dialogue. After spending four paragraphs boldly spreading the hateful propaganda of the anti-Tea Party movement he ends by calling for a repudiation of the very method he employs. Next time a major agenda item comes up, try something com- pletely different, how about a dis- cussion of the actual merits of the legislation being proposed instead of engaging in the dishonest art of character assassination. The reali- ty would soon emerge that the majority of Americans are opposed to the Obama agenda not because we are blinded by ideolo- gy but that we are justifiably angered by its implications for our lives, our fortunes and our future. Travis Deem, Red Bluff Capitalism not democracy Editor: It seems all anyone has to say to scare others about the pro- gressive movement in this coun- try is to scream socialism. Never mind that the vast major- ity have no clue of what they are talking about, just say someone is a socialist and you got the crowed in your pocket. But just what is socialism and how does it differ from cap- italism? I say capitalism instead of democracy because that is what we are really under. The almighty dollar rules in this country and those with lots of it call the shots. Those that don’t just have to suffer. Con artist are well paid and respected in this society, whether they use religion or play on our fear of a possible mishap. For instance why is the biggest concern in the health- care debate medical insurance? The insurance companies convince people into believing their medical needs will be taken care of if they pay the companies enough. Then they do all they can to weasel out of the deal when a serious health issue comes up. On the other hand socialized medicine eliminates the need for insurance all together by paying doctors and nurses directly. Sure, socialized medi- cine comes at a price, but it is a lot cheaper price than what we are paying now. Michael Jackson hit it right on the head when he sung in one of his songs, “All I want to say is they don’t really care about us.” Orval Strong, Gerber Question for supervisors Editor: What? Politalk has invaded even local government? I kind of figure a "public safety" bud- get has to do with the fire and police departments budgets. But... What pray tell, is a "non- public safety" budget? Is this a real thing or are the supe's just trying to hide where the major cuts are going to come from? Didn't somebody at this meeting stand up and ask, "What the heck is that?" If this is something simple, please excuse my ignorance. Fred Boest, Red Bluff Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 4164 P.O. Box 942849, Sacramento 94249; (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319- 2102 STATE SENATOR — Sam Aanestad (R), State Capitol Bldg., Room 2054, Sacramen- to, CA 95814. (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Trust in the GOPs Dearth of Experience Commentary When Republicans warn that a policy is a job-killer - Ameri- cans should listen. If any group of lawmakers and thinkers know about killing jobs it’s the Grand Old Party. In 2008, the final year of the Bush Administration, after two terms of careless deregulation implemented with bastardized pseudo-free market battle cries, the economy lost 2.6 million jobs. An annual job loss not equaled since 1945. When it comes to job extermina- tion the GOP’s display case has a full assortment of trophies. So, of course Republicans are now the best authority on how not to kill jobs. Basically, don’t do what they did. “The Environmental Protec- tion Agency (EPA) is plotting a new massive job-killer that the American people can’t afford,” cautioned House Republican Leader John Boehner last week. He knows this because he was arguably privy to the “old” mas- sive job-killer that Americans couldn’t afford. Like the tobacco critic “Deb- bie” a life-long smoker who infamously took a drag off a cig- arette through a hole in her neck for an anti-smoking PSA in the 1990’s -- it’s not hypocrisy for the GOP to talk about what will or won’t tank the economy – it comes from their experience tanking the economy. The GOP is solidly against everything in President Barack Obama’s agenda. Coincidence? No, it’s based on their record of being solidly for everything in President Bush’s agenda. They’re simply learning from their mistakes and gaining from their life lessons. That’s why they now are deficit hawks, because they’re trying to make up for their previous mistakes. That’s why they now want smaller government since they grew it. That’s why they now want to work on decreasing the debt since they increased it. We need to start listening to the GOP and their leaders. They have a unique familiarity with the things they deplore. And that’s important in deploring things: When RNC Chairman Michael Steele dismisses the Democrats for big spending, this isn’t his first prom. Steele can recognize a bulging budget by having doubled his predeces- sors’. He has studied the issue at length as the par-taying party chairman. He’s thought about the wasteful spending from his private jets and limousines. He can see the pork people who fly commercial would completely miss. Chairman Steele has simply been doing research into fiscal conservatism from the opposite side of the spectrum. This way he gains the necessary perspec- tive. Recently Rush Limbaugh thankfully pointed out that the Obama administration is guilty of “character assassination.” Only a person who publicly accused P arkinsons patient/stem cell research spokesper- son Michael J. Fox of faking his symp- toms would have such an expertise on slander. You don’t just pick on the then 13-year-old daugh- ter of the President, Chelsea Clinton for her looks and not know how to spot cheap shots. If you spend years compar- ing everything Obama does with Nazis you of course are going to be more sensitive to the assassi- nation of other people’s charac- ter. Were the convicts in Scared Straight discounted because of their crimes? No. They were the best people to tell troubled youths what not to do because they did it. Just like today’s GOP. Who knows more about the inside than an insider? Who knows more about sin than a sin- Tina Dupuy ner? Who knows more about real Americans than the politi- cally ambitious who overuse the phrase “real Americans?” No one, that’s who. And who knows more about “socialized” medicine and its devastating implications than former Massachu- setts Governor Mitt Romney. He passed “socialized” medicine in his state four years ago this month. He told the Associated Press at a book signing near his current home in La Jolla, California that passing health care reform will cost Obama a second term. Is it because the nearly identical legisla- tion passed in his state and he didn’t seek a sec- ond term? Yes. Romney knows about health care reform and re-elections. Or really just about health care reform and opting out of re-election. How can we fault those who know the most about the hen houses just because happen to be foxes? Do we want to live in an America that does? Tina Dupuy is an award- winning writer and the editor of FishbowlLA.com. Tina can be reached at tina@cagle.com.