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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2015)
Page 4A OPINION East Oregonian Friday, October 9, 2015 OTHER VIEWS Founded October 16, 1875 KATHRYN B. BROWN DANIEL WATTENBURGER Publisher Managing Editor JENNINE PERKINSON Advertising Director TIM TRAINOR Opinion Page Editor OUR VIEW Tip of the hat; kick in the pants A kick in the pants to those who are not welcoming President Obama as he journeys to the shell-shocked city of Roseburg today. In times of tragedy, we should have the decency to put political differences aside. You might not agree with the president’s stance on gun control, or anything for that matter. But visiting the site of terrible events is part of the job of being president — and certainly among the worst parts of the job at that. A strange Fox News interview with a man who prints his own right wing newspaper in Roseburg certainly gave the nation a warped view of the feelings of the majority RIUHVLGHQWVRIWKDWFLW\,QIDFWRI¿FLDOV from both the city of Roseburg and Douglas County felt that need to release statements noting that the president would be “extended every courtesy” and they hoped he would be able to comfort people in a town that is so clearly hurting. Their word show that hostility to a president doing what he can is not an opinion shared by those leadership positions. But because one angry man made national headlines, it gave the impression that Oregonians are not the good hosts we know ourselves to be. Readers are probably sick of this by now, but since we kicked other councils we might as well extend the boot to the Pendleton city council for not allowing its residents to vote on whether marijuana businesses should operate in the city. Sure, 55 percent of Pendletonians voted against Measure 91 back in 2014 — a measure that passed anyway and made it legal to grow, possess and use small amounts of marijuana. But that vote is moot now that marijuana is legal in Oregon. We imagine many people who were against legalization now hope their city at least gets some dollars out of the stuff, which can help reduce the tax burden and care for people who may be affected by the change in legality. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we’ll be given the opportunity to prove that attitudes have changed in two years. The council voted 5-3 to continue down the road toward a permanent ban, and making sure voters don’t have a say in the matter. There is clearly a better, more democratic way here. And the council could have done the politically expedient thing by washing their hands of the controversial matter and letting the people decide. They refused, and deserve a kick for doing so. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board of Publisher Kathryn Brown, Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, and Opinion Page Editor Tim Trainor. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES U.S. Senators U.S. Representative Ron Wyden Greg Walden Washington office: 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 202-224-5244 La Grande office: 541-962-7691 Washington office: 185 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 202-225-6730 La Grande office: 541-624-2400 Jeff Merkley Governor Washington office: 313 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753 Pendleton office: 541-278-1129 Racist name calling not a hate crime On July 17 in Charleston, S.C., a lone white gunman entered a black church and murdered nine black church members. That was a hate crime. Now, addressing someone as “wetback” and hosing him down seems like a not-so-nice prank. “Wetback” is on par with the term “okie.” Someone ought to arrest those Milton-Freewater cops for embarrassing all of Eastern Oregon. It is too bad that hick SROLFHGHSDUWPHQWVGH¿QHVXFFHVV by the number of arrests. John Shippentower Pendleton Just look at streets and see need for gas tax Are you going to believe what you see or are you going to believe what Rex Morehouse tells you? The slogan of Rex Morehouse and the other Pendleton naysayers appears to be “Save the Potholes: Vote No on the Fuel Tax.” What Morehouse doesn’t tell you is that you are going to pay an increased price in city services in some other area if you follow his advice. This increased price will be born 100 percent by yourself. What Morehouse does not want you to understand is that the city resident does not have to bear 100 percent of the shortfall in present monies received for street Kate Brown 160 State Capitol 900 Court Street Salem, OR 97301-4047 503-378-4582 As Clinton falls, some Democrats remain optimistic I n a recent Wall Street Journal poll, was lying, while 32 percent said she the number of Americans who say wasn’t, and 10 percent said they didn’t they have a very positive opinion know. of Hillary Clinton hit its lowest point Clinton’s various explanations LQWKH\HDUVVLQFHVKHZDV¿UVWODG\ of her email system have been Meanwhile, the number of Americans undermined by new revelations in the who say they have a very negative case. That has led to new questions, opinion of her hit its highest point. and then to new explanations, and, Just 14 percent of those surveyed most likely, new revelations as the Byron told Journal pollsters they had a investigation moves forward. The York very positive opinion of Clinton — a process has been so damaging that Comment dramatic drop from the 34 percent who Clinton’s aides are virtually begging felt that way in January 2013, as she for everyone to just stop talking about ZDV¿QLVKLQJKHUVHUYLFHDVVHFUHWDU\RIVWDWH it. On the other side, 34 percent of those in “Questions on @HillaryClinton’s emails the new survey said they have a very negative on this morning’s #MTP? Asked and opinion of Clinton — a dramatic increase answered. Time to move on,” tweeted senior from the 9 percent who felt that way in May Clinton adviser Karen Finney recently after 2011. Clinton faced questions on “Meet the Press.” In hypothetical head-to-head matchups, Democratic surrogates tweeted the same the Journal poll showed Clinton losing message, using the same words, after the (by a single point) to both Ben Carson and interview, suggesting the campaign has been Carly Fiorina, Republican candidates whose reduced to hoping it all ends soon. chances, not too long ago, would never The email matter is serious and could have been mentioned in the same breath as become more serious still. But Democrats Clinton’s. argue the press and voters should not lose The numbers are another indication of the sight of fundamental trends in the race that dramatic change in Americans’ thinking about still support Clinton. In a recent column Clinton, as she moved from the relatively headlined “No, pundits, Hillary Clinton non-partisan position of secretary of state isn’t collapsing,” the Democratic strategist to the hyper-partisan role of presidential Joe Trippi argued that Clinton has strengths candidate. And as the public’s opinion of that virtually guarantee victory. First, her her goes down, her lead in the Democratic campaign is better organized than it was primary race shrinks. in her 2007-2008 run. Second, Iowa and Six months ago, before Clinton formally New Hampshire, where Bernie Sanders is announced her White House run, she was doing well, won’t necessarily determine the the presidential choice of an astonishing Democratic nominee. And third — and most 67.6 percent of Democrats, according to the importantly — Clinton will be formidable in RealClearPolitics average of polls. In second states with lots of African-American and other place in the Democratic race — if that’s what minority voters who are the backbone of the it could be called — was Vice President Joe Democratic coalition. Biden, then as now not a candidate, with 10 Indeed, the Fox poll — the one that showed percent of the vote. Bringing up the rear of the a majority of Americans believe Clinton is three-candidate contest was Martin O’Malley, lying about the email affair — underscores with 1.0 percent. (Bernie Sanders wasn’t a some of that strength. Just 26 percent of factor at that time.) black respondents told pollsters they believe Today, Clinton’s 57.6-point lead from six Clinton is lying, versus 65 percent of whites. months ago has shrunk to 13.2 points in the And Clinton is far ahead of her rivals among average, and some new polls show it to be non-white Democrats — 54 percent to Biden’s shrinking further still. The Wall Street Journal 20 percent and Sanders’ 15 percent. survey shows Clinton leading Sanders by a Finally, of course, Democrats still express seven-point margin, 42 percent to 35 percent. faith in their party’s demographic advantage And in the early states, Clinton has a small in presidential elections, arguing it would take lead over Sanders in Iowa, according to huge Republican good fortune to defeat even a the average, and is far behind him in New damaged Hillary Clinton. Hampshire. So there are reasons some Democrats view Partially driving her decline, of course, is the email scandal as more of an irritation than the email scandal, which has exacerbated the an existential threat to Clinton. But look at the public’s doubts about Clinton’s truthfulness. steeply declining trend line of her polls. How A recent Fox News poll asked, “Do you low will it have to go before Democrats panic? think Hillary Clinton is lying about how her Ŷ emails were handled while she was secretary Byron York is chief political correspondent of state?” A solid 58 percent said Clinton for The Washington Examiner. YOUR VIEWS maintenance. With the 5 cent per gallon increase in place, 40 percent or more will come from those who live outside the city. It is only fair that all those who use the streets help maintain the streets. It is that simple. To quote Larry O’Rourke, let’s believe what we see. Not only believe but “Fix the damn streets.” By the way this is not a tax, it is a street users fee. Ron Gavette Pendleton Presidential candidate disappointed in Obama My name is Ed Baker and I am a resident in Portland. I am also a candidate in the 2016 presidential election. I was very disappointed by how our current President responded to the recent shooting at Umpqua Community College. Our President should have acknowledged the event and given his condolences to the family members and loved ones of those who died or were wounded. He should have stated that the suspect was diseased. That should have been the end of it. I am a believer in our Constitution, rights and freedom. I will never punish the good people of America who have done no wrong. I am a supporter of our Second Amendment and will defend the rights of Americans. Ed Baker Portland City can’t be trusted with gas tax dollars In Friday’s East Oregonian, Chuck Wood stated during a PAC meeting, “We’ve had a sorry history of getting the fuel tax to stay.” I would like to abbreviate that quote to “We’ve had a sorry history.” I’ve been branded as a “naysayer” but every letter I have ever written was based on valid research. Winston Churchill made this statement about truth: “The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” I’ve been reading and clipping out Al Plute’s letters to the EO per his request. He, alone, is going to transform the city into a thriving economic engine that will be a PRGHORIHI¿FLHQF\DQGVXFFHVVIRU the region. However, this advice is given by a developer who was given a loan of $500,000 from the city and yet refused to pay a local plumber $61,000. On April 29, the EO revealed that Judge Hampton wrote in a four-page opinion that Plute must pay $61,000 to Pendleton Plumbing. One should look back to the city’s long history of hiring consultants to tell them the obvious. Thousands were spent on the Riverwalk Parkway plan that stipulated that new structures within that area along Court Street be two-story. The owner of Wtechlink later stated that those additional costs eventually deterred him from locating his business there. The Urban Renewal District was established in 2003, the same year I returned to Pendleton to care for my mother. Twelve years have gone by and the “Riverwalk Quarter Enhancement Plan” has been a complete and costly failure. Advisory committee member Mary Hallman “compared the plan to Barnhart Road, a project the city hasn’t completely abandoned despite a current lack of interest from developers.” I also read about the city’s new transportation plan that features bicycles front and center. If you have insomnia, I suggest you read WKHFLW\¶V8QL¿HG'HYHORSPHQW Plan prepared by avid bike rider Evan MacKenzie. It has 114 pages. I predict that there will be an exodus from Pendleton if this advice by consulting company Murray, Smith and Associates is implemented: “In order to pay for the improvements, the report suggested doubling water rates, raising sewer rates by 57 percent and creating a systems development charge — a fee assessed to new developments.” Gas tax? No thanks. Quit spending money you don’t have. Jerry Cronin Florence Downtown police presence is strong On Wednesday a letter was published in the East Oregonian complaining about the lack of police presence in downtown Pendleton. I just wanted to defend the SROLFHEHFDXVHWKH\GH¿QLWHO\DUH present. I live downtown and see them driving up one street and down another. Sometimes from my porch ,ZLOOVHHPXOWLSOHRI¿FHUVLQ different vehicles in only the few minutes I’m outside. I know that if there is an emergency they can get to me almost instantly. The truth is that Oregon is already a nanny state; having SROLFHRI¿FHUVSUHVHQWRQHYHU\ block is not the answer. Some people are going to get DZD\ZLWKWKLQJVOLNHPLQRUWUDI¿F violations and that’s just the way life works. While I support an increase of police presence in school zones and the addition of roadblocks during special events, I must commend the local law enforcers for doing a great job in Pendleton overall and especially in the downtown area. We are blessed to have such peaceful relations with our men and women in blue. They deserve our respect and gratitude. Carlin Sacco Pendleton