Hometown Family Values

The Iconoclast, a small paper in Crawford, Texas, made national news recently when it endorsed John Kerry for President. In what I can only see as the coarsening of our politics at the hands of Bush, Delay, Hastert, et al, this endorsement has proven to be dangerous.

Threats of violence have been made, staff have been harassed, and an apparently organized effort is being made to run them out of business. It seems Mr. Bush isn't the only resident of Crawford who is quick to anger and strike out inappropriately. Here are some excerpts from their latest, surprisingly calm, editorial:

We expected that perhaps a few readers might cancel subscriptions, and maybe even ads, but have been amazed at a few of the more intense communications, some of which bordered on outright personal attacks and uncalled-for harassment.

We have been told by several avid Bush supporters that the days when newspapers publish editorials without personal repercussions are over. As publishers, we have printed editorials for decades, and have endorsed candidates, both Republican and Democrat. When Bush was endorsed four years ago, the Gore supporters did not respond with threats, nor did Democrats when we endorsed Reagan twice. Republicans did not threaten us personally or our business when we endorsed Carter and Clinton for their first terms.

In the past, when individuals disagreed with an editorial, they would write a letter to the editor politely expressing a different point of view in contrast to the views of the publishers, which we have usually published. Occasionally someone would cancel a subscription or an ad, but this was rare.
...
Unfortunately, for the Iconoclast and its publishers there have been threats — big ones including physical harm.

Too, some individuals are threatening innocent commercial concerns, claiming that if they advertise in The Iconoclast, they will be run out of business. We consider this improper in a democracy.

Have they started passing out the brown shirts yet? Hey anybody, do you know when they scheduled the Kristallnacht for?

Here are the links in case you might want to subscribe or advertise.