Editor:

In response to the Casper Star-Tribune claim that conservative candidate Barbara Cubin used negative ads in her 2006 campaign against liberal candidate Gary Trauner:

Since when is employing a candidates own quotes in campaign ads negative? You would think Gary Trauner was thrilled to have his own words in ads for the final weeks of a campaign. Unless, of course, he had changed his mind on the issues to fit the electorate's mood.

Every single ad released by Cubin for Congress was truthful and stated the source of its information - a quote Gary Trauner made in public to an organization or media outlet.

Don't words count? Should a person not be held responsible for his past remarks and views? To point out the conflicts in a candidates spoken or written views is not negative campaigning, it is informative campaigning. Is that not what the CS-T does every day?

News organizations remind public officials of what they said and did just months ago. They then question why their views on issues have changed and report it to their audience. The CS-T is no different than any campaign committee. You tell voters what a candidate won't voluntarily reveal.

You state Gary Trauner would have won the campaign if he'd have used negative ads. Trauner did attack Barbara Cubin throughout the campaign. But that wasn't negative to the Star-Tribune was it? In your collective minds, Barbara had it coming and he was just stating the truth in his ads and literature.

The CS-T should quit being so hypocritical.

By the way, Congresswoman Cubin won the 2006 Campaign by more than 1,000 votes, enough votes not to warrant an automatic recount. No overtime, no shootout, the campaign was won in regulation time.

This letter is endorsed by the Cubin for Congress 2006 campaign manager.

BILL MAIERS, Casper