Dear Editor:
In the June 22 edition of the YCN, Carl Wolf paid a rare compliment to my writings. Thank you, Carl, and Happy Birthday.
However, Carl then used his column to villainize myself, claiming that I feel Democrats are “monsters” and “deadly creatures,” “out to destroy our country” and “enemies and terrible to boot.” Which article written by me gives him even poetic license to tell people that such are my innermost thoughts?
I take special offense because my grandmother was a West Virginia coal miner’s daughter and wife that clung to the UMW philosophy and expanded it to the UAW doctrine when her family moved to northern Indiana and started working at Bendix and Studebaker. My father was the first Republican shop steward at Studebaker. He and my mother often joked as they canceled out each other’s votes. Carl, you may rest assured that I do not, and never have, considered my grandparents or my mother monsters or enemies.
Several years ago. I covered the Bernie Sanders campaign for the Billings OutPost. The contact person was our own Jennifer Merecki. We became friends and she often said that with the great divide in our political perspectives, our friendship should be a beacon to others that civil discourse and friendship is possible, as we all just want what is best for Montana and America.
Carl, your attitude is pervasive. Notice how the lady protestor in this week’s column did not trust the press and the counter protester also refused to give his name. And they did not trust each other. They trusted only their own core groups.
Mr. Wolf, you can be part of the solution or you can be a journalist that hurls unearned insults masquerading as knowledgeable insight. But you cannot be both.
Brad Molnar
Laurel
Editor’s note: Brad Molnar writes a column, “Political Potpourri,” which is published occasionally in the Yellowstone County News.
