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6A – Daily News – Monday, April 12, 2010 Opinion 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 Blah, blah, blah and bah humbug 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. Letters are published at the discretion of the editor. Mission Statement We believe that a strong com- munity newspaper is essential to a strong community, creating citizens who are better informed and more involved. The Daily News will be the indispensible guide to life and living in Tehama County. We will be the premier provider of local news, information and advertising through our daily newspaper, online edition and other print and Internet vehi- cles. The Daily News will reflect and support the unique identities of Tehama County and its cities; record the history of its com- munities and their people and make a positive difference in the quality of life for the resi- dents and businesses of Tehama County. 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’ll begin this column with an admonishment from my 88-year- young mother "If you don’t have anything nice to say it is best to say nothing at all." It is too bad that her era of grace and humility in human discourse has been replaced with the in your face, confrontational, and ego-driven indigna- tion of modern times. Like her I wish more of us would just get along trusting in the mutual good faith and intentions of our fellow citizens, rather than adopt the per- spective of Scrooge by saying "bah hum- bug" and prematurely discounting those that don’t necessarily share our personal points of view. Although the thrust of my column last week was to encourage all political par- ties to take a three part civility pledge it seems no one seriously considered what I had to say. Instead I received e-mails, was the subject of a letter to the editor, to say. and heard more of the same tired defensive and impassioned com- plaints of folks that felt I was picking on them. Apparently emotions got in the way of my message as none of them even mentioned their positions regarding my simple requests and instead focused only on a self serving defense of their predispositions. Richard Mazzucchi Positive Point This has become so common of late that I find myself affected by the blah, blah, blah syndrome made famous by singer/songwriter Antsy McClain of the Trailer Park Troubadours. The song, largely composed of the lyric "blah, blah, blah" alludes to all that many tend to hear when confronted with seeming endless and predictable reactions to what we have It seems the sustainable thing to do at times, and the one that my detractors would certain- ly wish I adopt, would be to spare the ink and paper to publish my ideas when they aren’t seriously considered, if even read, by those that I am trying to affect. Oh well, what is a columnist to do. For myself I take no umbrage that folks disagree with me, instead I am pleased that people bother to read what I have to say. However when they only react to the introduction, rather than meat of my message, I realize that I have failed to heed the wise coun- sel of my mom, and thereby may have only made matters worse. It is difficult for this columnist, and most activists, to keep their mouths shut, but often this is the most effective response. Some- how though I think the editor and most readers of my column would be dismayed if I only pro- vided a blank page for them to read whatever they might wish into what I don’t have to say! All kidding aside, I think it is important that all of us try to tone down the negative rhetoric and couched disrespect for those that have opinions that differ from our own. I would hope that we would instead seek common ground and strengthen our resolve to perfect our government, not as battling enemies, but as impassioned advocates with individual points of view. While we can’t always agree, at least we can agree to dis- agree without stereotyping or hurling insults at one another. I believe that come this November, with the economy on the mend, the promise of universal health care at hand, and efforts by the President to pacify the cries of conservatives, the American peo- ple will rally to support our progress, rather than fear the retirement or modification of policies and programs that aren’t working. I think that President Obama will get credit from the right by supporting new nuclear power plants and additional offshore drilling permits to address our energy crisis. While it is true he also supports energy efficiency and green power development we might be able to have our cake and eat it too, not battle about what we fear might be lost. Sure there are downsides, but to focus upon them and ignore the benefits is disingenuous. As we place more trust in the goodness of our humanity as Americans and work to restore the grace and humility of days gone by, we too can peacefully make it to age 88 and beyond. 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. Asmear is a smear is a bogus smear Commentary In its ongoing program of bringing candidates before the public, the Tehama County Tea Party Patriots will welcome several this Tuesday, the 13th. You are welcome to attend, lis- ten to a relatively short presen- tation by the candidate and ask a concise, respectful question (no mini-speeches or insulting statements, please). This Tues- day, they will be: Greg Cohen running for District Attorney, Beverly Ross for county Clerk/Recorder, and Dale Stroud for Assessor. Stay to see what action groups are ongo- ing; you might find an outlet for your laudable desire to make a difference and have an impact while meeting friendly folks. On a related note, the Corn- ing Tea Party Patriots meets this Thursday, the 15 at 6 p.m. As have other Tea Party groups across the nation (hundreds of new groups and about 150,000 new members since the passage of health care law), Corning is now seeing sustained and solid attendance at the Corning Senior Center at 4th St. and South St on the first and third Thursdays. Now, I depart from local coverage, except in the sense that our local paper ran a syndi- cated column by Ms. Tina Dupuy on April 1, a McClatchy news piece on April 8, as well as a local writer’s column on April 5, on this subject. The basis for all the righteous indig- nation and condemnation were reports of racial epithets, as well as one spitting incident, directed at members of the Congressional Black Caucus as they made a dramatic, but entirely unnecessary, above- ground trek, through protesters to the Capitol to vote on the health care bill on March 20. Since all of the over-wrought vituperation directed at the Tea Party movement, and by exten- sion to Congressman Herger and Tea Party Patriots (by a local writer), originates from news reports, we’ll first focus on the McClatchy pieces. The April 8 article appears to enshrine as established fact that "protesters shouted racial epi- thets at Rep. John Lewis … and spat on Rep. Emanuel Cleaver … . The protesters also used a slur as they confronted (openly gay) Rep. Barney Frank … ." That slur, "f----t," apparently heard by a reporter, is con- demnable, but unreported was the fact that surrounding pro- testers chastised the individual. Next, we’ll dispense with the supposed "spitting" incident. As can be clearly seen from a 5 minute You Tube video, which I’ve posted at Polecat News and Views under the title "How Quickly Spread the Tea Party Smears" (use link at the Daily News web site), Mr. Cleaver walks by a protester who’s shouting "Kill the bill" repeat- edly with gusto. Since his mouth obviously indicates shouting, not spitting, and since the Congressman admitted in an interview on Fox 4 News (Kansas City) that he was sim- ply on the receiving end of such inadvertent spittle, McClatchy is reporting erroneously. Per- haps they simply failed to go back and follow up on the Cleaver office’s press release of the arrest of the spitter — there was no arrest because there was no spitting. The AP likewise put out that inaccurate news item, which remains an erro- neous part of the April 8 McClatchy article "Candidates viewing tea party sup- port as double-edged sword." Initially reported by McClatchy’s William Douglas together with James Rosen, in a web-based article about tea party pro- testers screaming a racial slur at a black congressman," the incident, the source of the umbrage and hyperventilation, can be described as utterly fallacious. The accu- sation is based entirely on statements made by the congressmen, and unsupported by a sin- gle ubiquitous video, audio or cell phone recording (as Jesse Jackson Jr. was doing). Andrew Breitbart offered $10,000, now $100,000, for proof of the slur. The word of Rep. Lewis, while he was a courageous hero of the civil rights struggle, is not sufficient. 1) He stated on the House floor that 20 million slaves were thrown overboard and sharks still follow where those ships traveled; 2) He compared Sena- tor McCain to the racist Gover- nor George Wallace; 3) In 2006, he equated the election of "right-wing Republicans" in a Georgia county race, to "fight- ing off dogs and water hoses in the ‘60s." No one with a race- baiting record like that deserves credulous acceptance that the n- word was used absent corrobo- ration. Don Polson The way I see it Bottom line: It didn’t hap- pen. Conclusion: Reporters, news orga- nizations and colum- nists – syndicated or local – owe retrac- tions and apologies for reporting, spread- ing, and opining on the basis of these bogus smears. There is no worse epithet that can be hurled than the n-word at black people, and there is no worse false accusation that can be hurled at someone than that they, or the group they belong to, are racist. Shame on you all! African- American communities suffer from "single parenthood, dys- functional schools, the debili- tating effects of the welfare state" and other maladies (Peter Kirsanow). Racism is not at the core of those problems. Inform yourself; enter "Red America, White Power" in a search window and read an excellent piece by Michael C. Moynihan at Reason.com. A protester’s sign sums it up: "It doesn’t matter what this sign says, you’ll call it racism any- way!"