Matters Of Opinion

Some Thoughts About Today’s Post Tribune

The pictures a little fuzzy, but featured to the left is me, my son Gage, and Senator Dan Coats.

My family drove out to the Porter County fair to meet Sen. Coats, and I have to say, I was impressed. He had a commanding presence, seemed like a very amiable fellow, and seemed sincere about needing our help (and appreciating the help) here in Porter County. He gave a little speech to a group of us (mostly candidates, and then me, lol) and then we all filed out in a little mini-parade down the board walk. I thought it went well, everybody seemed to either be appreciative of Coats being there, and the ones that didn’t weren’t being annoying and yelling and screaming at us. All in all, a fun little time, I got to meet Dan Coats for the first time, as well as John Costas.

So imagine my surprise when I read this comment from some 17 year old kid in the Post Tribune today complaining that he didn’t get his hand shook: “It’s kind of upsetting. He probably doesn’t think youth matters.” A LOT of people didn’t get their hand shook, buddy. There was a pretty good number of people there, don’t worry about it. If you were really that interested in meeting him, you could have easily just walked up to him and introduced yourself. It’s not like there was security guards all around us (although God have mercy on the man that messes with Ralph Levi, that’s a big guy). It sounds to me like he just wanted to whine about Coats to the press, who is never reluctant to criticize a Republican (not that I’m complaining. It’s a fact that as Republicans we are going to get press coverage that is often less than optimal. It doesn’t happen ALL the time, but it happens enough that it is pretty noticeable, especially with a paper like the Post Tribune, excluding Davich) but maybe I’m wrong. If you really did feel like you got unfairly left out, let me relay my own first experience meeting Dan Coats.

It doesn’t surprise me much when older Republicans give me a second look up and down. I have one arm fully sleeved, the other arm scattered with tattoos, and gauges in my ears. I don’t look like the everyday, golfing, country club Republican. I’ve had it happen, especially with older R’s, and it’s just a fact. I chose to have my body look like this, and I like the way my body looks, but it does deter some people who haven’t always had positive experiences with people with tat’s and piercings. So I usually try and go out of my way to show that not all of us are a-holes. Regardless, with my first meeting of Coats and Costas both, I was happily surprised. Both looked directly at my eyes, and if they gave my arms a second look, I didn’t notice it. I didn’t get the feeling that it mattered to either of them, and neither one hesitated to shake my hand, pat me on my back, and ask me about my son (who was screaming most of the time. Hot weather and babies do not mix.) The same goes for my wife, who has a similar appearance. If the 17 year old really did think that Coats not shaking his hand was a slight, I hope he reads this account and realizes it wasn’t. There were several people on the midway, and just because you got passed up doesn’t mean that Coats or any of the other candidates don’t care about your vote or your voice.

I know on facebook today, regarding that same article, there was some complaints about the term “teabaggers” being used to describe TEA Party members. Some of the people said they were going to ask for an apology from the Post, and great, I hope they do ask, and that one is printed. It’s not the place of the papers writers, excluding op-eds, to allow their personal views to affect the content of the story. But there was a much bigger, full page of bias towards that back that I was surprised nobody else picked up on: Rich James’ piece on Gary Mayor Rudy Clay.

Yes, the piece was critical of Clay and critical of the many “grand plans” (or schemes, as I like to refer to them) of Clay to boost the city of Gary back up to where it used to be. However, I shook my head at the tone and wording of the article itself. “Despite your best intentions, Rudy…” and “The heck of it all, Rudy, is that I know you are passionate about Gary…” and “I don’t like being critical of you, Rudy…”

I have read some glaring pieces from James where he doesn’t mind being critical AT ALL…as long as it’s about conservatives. Yes, it is a rarity that he writes bad about a Dem. at all, and I guess in some small way it’s at least a victory that he wrote the piece in the first place, but STILL. James, if you want to have a reputation as being a tough as nails commentator on political doings and government employees, go right ahead. Hell, I encourage it! It’s needed! But please, let’s show some fairness. I know it’s a commentary piece, and by all rights you should write whatever crosses your mind, but it’s a glaring bias that is unbecoming of you, and I think you are too good of a writer to fall into that kind of political softball.