Northwestern Should Focus On REAL Issue
October 30, 2002
Tony,
It is with disappointment and disgust that I read your
update this morning referencing an investigation allegedly being done
by Eric Bradley from the Oshkosh Northwestern over your posting of radio ad
scripts for 54th Assembly District candidate James Genisio.
The Commentary website has been nothing but fair in
the posting of stories, letters, etc., for all candidates, regardless of their
political affiliation, and it is unfortunate that you and the Commentary site
have become the focus of a witchhunt in the final week before the November
general election. The origination of this "investigation" seems
pretty obvious and, in my opinion, its intent smacks of moral and ethical
bankruptcy -- an effort to deflect attention from what should be the real
issue and the focus of the real investigation.
| Meanwhile, I applaud you for your balanced job of reporting. I feel confident that when the investigation has concluded, two things will have happened: (1) you will be vindicated from any wrongdoing on your Commentary website, and (2) Mr. Underheim still will not have released documentation concerning the issue in question. |
Our local newspaper is spending its time and manpower investigating this issue,
while the matter of incumbent
Gregg Underheim using a caucus staffer for his personal campaign work
has apparently become a dead issue. Mr. Underheim, according to a report in
the Northwestern last week, acknowledged that a staffer did handle some work,
albeit a small amount, for his 2000 re-election campaign. But he claimed it
was innocent and the Northwestern seems to be satisfied with that "explanation."
Never mind the fact that his explanation was devoid of anything that would
prove the "innocence" of the staffer's activities.
Ironically, Melanie Bloechl wrote
you a letter yesterday about this issue and has submitted a similar letter
to the community for our own show's
website. In those letters she raises a very good point -- that if everything
surrounding the Underheim caucus issue is innocent and totally above board,
then Mr. Underheim should release to the public either a copy of the cancelled
check showing where he personally paid the staffer for her services OR, in
the event the staffer donated her services, a copy of his campaign finance
report showing the services listed as an "in-kind" donation.
Why doesn't our local newspaper focus on that which is a REAL issue, rather
than trying to make an issue of something that isn't? The people in this community
are not that naive. We know what the real issues are and we can see through
this smokescreen. I join Melanie Bloechl in asking Rep. Underheim to produce
the proof showing the innocence of the caucus staffer's work on his campaign.
Meanwhile, I applaud you for your balanced job of reporting. I feel confident
that when the investigation has concluded, two things will have happened:
(1) you will be vindicated from any wrongdoing on your Commentary website,
and (2) Mr. Underheim still will not have released documentation concerning
the issue in question.
Cheryl Hentz
Co-host/Co-producer, "Eye on Oshkosh"