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'Liberalism, filth and innuendo'
Submitted by Kevin Richert on Fri, 08/15/2008 - 11:43am.
Our friend Randy Stapilus has already predicted this quote will go viral. So let me do my little bit to highlight this caustic comment from Wayne Hoffman, the outspoken spokesman for Rep. Bill Sali.
Taking issue with a recent editorial in his old paper, Nampa's Idaho Press-Tribune, Hoffman says, "The Press-Tribune has, regrettably, joined the chorus of shrill news lemmings all marching willingly to a sea of liberalism, filth and innuendo."
Other than that, I guess, we're all doing a whale of a job.
If Hoffman were any more upset, I'd advise him to start breathing through a paper bag. (If that quote doesn't convince you, click here to read Hoffman's guest opinion in full throat).
I suppose, in Wayne's world, I am one of those lemmings because I have chosen to jump into this blogomosh. So let me try to take a somewhat different tack. I can't take credit for it; one of my newsroom colleagues pointed it out.
Read Hoffman's piece carefully, and you don't see much of anything about a fellow by the name of Bill Sali. You know, Hoffman's boss. The guy who stands for election in the 1st Congressional District in less than three months. Hoffman offered no case refuting the original editorial — which said Sali's office is in disarray.
No. To a large degree, Hoffman has become the story here. I don't see how that's serving Sali.
As I've said on this space before, Hoffman is an old colleague here at the Statesman. We've had our disagreements over things I've written, but that's pretty standard fare between journalists and p.r. people.
Bottom line, I like Hoffman. But I don't know what's up with him. I also remember, back in his reporting days, that Hoffman didn't have a whole lot of patience for politicos (or their handlers) who were long on bluster and short on evidence.
Hoffman's latest missive lands squarely in that category, and with a thud. But what do I know? I'm just another lemming.
(For more, click here for D.F. Oliveria at the Spokane Spokesman-Review's Huckleberries Online; here for the Democratic blog Red State Rebels; and here for the left-leaning unequivocal notion.)
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KR nailed this one
Any political hack that makes it about himself needs to be shown the door and quickly.
Hoffman has gone off the deep end
Though I'm Liberal and did not vote for Bill Sali he is still my representative to Congress. That being the case he, or his representatives, should not be using language that alienates me because of my beliefs or ideology. I assume Hoffman represents Bill Sali, but I certainly hope this hateful and divisive language does not; though I suspect it might. That being said, Hoffman, who has been deceitful and divisive as Sali's spokesperson, has finally gone off the deep end here. If Hoffman doesn't step down then Sali needs to fire him.
Mystic...he only represents himself, so what does he care if
he alienates other constituents? Let's hope he's out of a job come January.
Thanks
for making me conscious of the fact that Wayne's become the story. I was trying to figure out what was wrong with the picture. So far the whole extent of the campaign from the Sali side has been name calling. Now we know from whence it originates.
Phone politicking
Unsolicited phone calls bashing Minnick - from the Sali campaign?
Hoffman has indeed become the story
I am a conservative and want to vote for Sali...but Hoffman has to go.
Do you really want to vote for Sali
or are you just another republican sheep trying to hold your nose and vote the party line? And just what does being a conservative mean to you?
Sheep?
Why would you insult or infer?
I voted for Andrus. I voted for Echohawk. I voted for LaRocco his first term. I voted for Clinton his first term.
I was wary of Sali two years ago but Grant was a non-candidate. Minnick is strong but Sali has voted as I would well over 95% of the time. Why should I fire him?
I smply want him to get his office in order. His votes are great - from my beliefs and perspective.
Any more insults or questions?
What has changed, mtomlin?
I ask this in all seriousness. Clearly, something happened during the 1990s to turn you from someone who frequently voted for Democrats to someone who supports Bill Sali. Rep Sali's positions are about as anathema as you can get to Democratic principles, and yet you say he votes as you would 95 percent of the time? It sounds to me as if you've had a 180-degree turn in your political philosophy over the past decade, which is fairly startling - and Idaho Democratic activists like me would like to know why.
As for Larry Grant being a non-candidate, he did pretty well considering he came within 5 percent of beating Sali in a heavily GOP area. He had a lot of Republican support, just as Minnick now does. (Full disclosure: I worked on the Grant campaign in 2006.)
A fair question
The Democrats have changed.
I am a lifelong Republican, student of the late Wm. F. Buckley, and Reagan Conservative.
I've lived in the south where Dems like Sam Nunn are more conservative on many issues than moderates like John McCain. That was the promise of Arkansas' Bill Clinton - "yes he's a Dem but he's one of those southern Dems.." He campaigned to the center and presided to the Left.
I voted for Andrus and not for either Party - I trusted his judgment, and he was never a Nancy Pelosi Dem.
LaRocco is a military vet, I knew his wife, and his competition was Rachel Gilbert...oh goodness, he was the best bet. Of course after the scandel he lost my support and as with many Idaho R's I was very comfortable with the late Helen Chenowith, then Otter.
Echohawk was more conservative than Phil Batt. And for me Kempthorne was a pretty easy vote for mayor, the Senate, and the State House.
Sorry about Grant, but he never once acted as if he was interested in getting up in the morning and being our Rep. I didn't really "like" Sali but his voting record was solid so I voted for the Party on that one. And he has rewarded me with almost every vote.
Dems will still get my vote when they put up an Andrus and not a Dan Williams.
This year is tough, I like Minnick and I like LaRocco (he's forgiven and I think rehabed his career - good for him), but I have no reason to fire Sali...and I read in the newspaper that Jim Risch "just gets things done..." (smile)
Thank you for your answer
although I think it's probably more accurate to say "some Democrats have changed," rather than saying the whole party has.
If anything, the party of 2008 has come a long way toward lessening the influence of our own "special interests" that held sway in the late 20th century. Of course, eight years of Bush-Cheney ineptitude and malfeasance will encourage many ticket-splitters to give our candidates a closer look, too.
It's good that you vote for the person, not the party, and that you keep an open mind. Consider: Sali has only been in there one term and has little to no clout at this point. Although you may like his votes, please consider that Walt Minnick, as a moderate member of the majority party, would be a more powerful presence in DC for Idaho. Ditto for LaRocco, who will get credit for his two House terms when committee assignments are dispersed.
Do you want know the Truth?
I went grocery shopping two weeks back at the Grocery Outlet and bought a bid tub of reser's tater salad an 2.5 lbs of kielbasa type ring sausage. FIRST TIME TATERS COST MORE THAN MEAT.
EVER.
I KNEW you couldn't handle the Truth!
HEY! the server got a hemi!
what the hell?! :)
I'm hopin this catches on...
( )
I really hope that catches on.
Democratic blog
Kevin, I appreciate the link, but are you adopting the GOP practice of mislabeling my party?
The noun is Democrat; the adjective is Democratic. Thanks!
Sloppy usage and little caring about it.
Easy to sponge it.
As you've heard before no doubt, there is a famous quote...
I claim to never have been associated with any organized political party.
I am a Democrat.
Good point
And fixed.
Kevin Richert
editorial page editor
It is a good point
Thanks RSR, and I have become more aware of it as I am reading "John Adams." It almost seems weird reading about federalists and republicans (lower case f and r) as points of view and not organized and incorporated political parties.
Today as a Republican I am also democratic, and assume many Democrats are also republican. Those words have specific meaning and we need to use them accordingly, except of course when we misuse them with the intent to make a political or campaign point (smile), as you reference.
Cliche until...
Faith, Hope and Charity are a Viagra ad...
I think I just topped you and I wasn't focused on it.