Posted: Wednesday, September 3, 2008 12:00 am
Editor:
Pointing out that someone is a city boy or Easterner is now tantamount to anti-Semitism. Merrell Bolen, letter Aug 26, said Cindy Lummis' expressions about Gary Trauner's background and questioning his ability to defend and appreciate rural, Western, economics or lifestyles is "thinly veiled anti-Semitic rhetoric."
Is Trauner a Semite? Cindy said "East, not Middle East, land of various Semitic peoples. If Bolen means Jews, he limits Semtism's bloodlines, cultures, and religions - even nations - more than Lummis limited "Western" or "Wyoming."
Bolen's assertion goes further at character assassination, argumentum ad hominem, and categorizing than anything Lummis said. Isn't smearing the cardinal sin for which dozens of letters attack Cindy? Are these writers among those who defended a certain Democrat, Wind River area, politician who came late to a meeting and blew it off as "Indian time" just a few years ago?
Hey, it's politics. Mud, and thankfully, questions will be flung. We self-righteously denounce negative campaigning or, in commerce, attack ads. Then, we spin around and caution ourselves of whatever dangers or prices the defamed products, politics, or persons may carry. Newspaper sales prove this.
Since Trauner's arrival, has he shmoozed with Eastern, city types and designer urbanites or has he rejected his past and now wants to act more "Western"? Though it's northwest in our state, today's Jackson is as "New York" as any Boulder, Bozeman, or San Francisco. As mentalities go, Torrington and Buffalo are a lot farther West or Rocky Mountain than Jackson. Does Trauner prefer teachers over ranchers? Enviros over loggers? Psychiatrists over preachers? Zoners over developers? FBI over sheriffs? Check his record! Note, also, where he wants to go if elected.
As to broad-brushing Cubin with similar sins as Cindy's: Barb has supported Israel firmly, generously, and gushingly, even to the point of junkets. Is she, too, a thinly veiled anti-Semite? P.S. I'm not voting for either woman. I just think free speech deserves support.
DENNIS BROSSMAN, Lander