Maureen Dowd of the New York Times fired off a claim that Joe Wilson's outburst during the President's Address, was somehow motivated by latent or overt racism. Citing no comment that Wilson made that would give credence to her belief, she used the fact that Wilson was a member of a southern group "Sons of the Confederacy" as her justification that Wilson was offended at being chastised by a smart black man.
The truth is that Dowd, who leans further to the left than the tower at Pisa is simply trying to gin up minorities and liberals in an effort to make political inroads in South Carolina. I sent an email to Ms. Dowd through the New York Times website and its contents are contained herein. I also invited her to reply to this listing, though I doubt she will.
Good meaning people can disagree and still be civil, Joe Wilson's heartfelt apology to the President is an example of a person making good from an inappropriate action. The President's acceptance of it should be the end. Our left leaning friends in the House leadership are continuing to act in politically motivated ways, especially after Wilson's Democratic opponent in SC raised more than a million dollars. The House's ploy is pure political theatre and Wilson, who says he won't apologize again, will probably have to succumb to the political pressures. The Guardian does not believe that Wilson is either racist, or should have to apologize further, regardless of the House rules which also say that you can lie and misreport your earnings as a public servant. One would think that Charles Rangle should apologize to the House for being such a crook and being under an ethics cloud that would make PigPen think he was in the sun. It is a shame that the discourse which used to be the norm for congress has become so polarized in the last 20 years. Lo for the days when Tip O'Neil and President Reagan could disagree mightily in public, yet still have one of the warmest friendships ever between men of opposing views in Washington.
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Ms. Dowd,
In an age where we are supposed to be enlightened and get beyond the sins of the past, how can you honestly say that Joe Wilson's outburst to the President was racially motivated?
Millions of people in this country have a reasonable concern over this administration and Congress' ability to manage any program, much less a new one that takes over 15% of the total economy.
The concerns over government management are not exclusive to Democrats. Republicans have also shown that they cannot effectively manage large scale programs as well.
By inferring racism in Wilson's comments, you are acting in an irresponsible manner; Inflaming bigots on both sides to retrench and believe that whites are bad or blacks are bad and therefore we should belittle and bemoan what the other has done to each.
Surely this debate is worthy of a more elevated discourse and you as a professional journalist should see beyond your own bias to appreciate and understand what is really going on before launching a verbal nuclear weapon like racism.
The New York Times had the reputation of, "All the news that's fit to print." You are in a position to make that true or false, but it would be better if you were to get your facts straight and not rely on inference or innuendo when you allege something so potentially damaging to a person's character.
This letter will be posted to my blog and I invite you to respond.
Michael Rowland
Sidney, Nebraska
Guardianofsidney.blogspot.com
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