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OPINION
East Oregonian
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Founded October 16, 1875
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Publisher
DANIEL WATTENBURGER
Managing Editor
TIM TRAINOR
Opinion Page Editor
MARISSA WILLIAMS
Regional Advertising Director
MARCY ROSENBERG
Circulation Manager
JANNA HEIMGARTNER
Business Office Manager
MIKE JENSEN
Production Manager
OUR VIEW
Closing the book
on open secrets
It’s hard to think of a more
Hollywood problem, or a D.C.
embarrassing oxymoron than the
problem, or a “somewhere else”
“open secrets” being exposed with
problem is key.
seemingly increased regularity in
Also key is making sure we’re
our country, from Hollywood to the not perpetuating the problem by
Fox News studios to Silicon Valley
accepting sexual harassment at any
to Washington, D.C.
level. It certainly begins at home,
It’s shameful that it often takes
but it must be addressed in schools,
victims, by definition in a powerless too, where we form the model for
position, to step forward and say
how we behave as adults. Imagine
what many of these powerful
the repercussions of dismissing
men’s associates
the allegations of
and colleagues
a victim who first
already know. It’s
It’s shameful that it comes to a trusted
also shameful how
with a problem.
often takes victims, adult
quickly and easily
Would she have the
by definition in a courage to do so
some dismiss the
claims of sexual
And the same
powerless position, again?
harassment and
goes for a harasser
to step forward
abuse, especially
who is allowed
when credible
to get away with
and say what
witnesses know
the conduct. What
many of these
for certain what
are the chances
he knocks off that
has happened and
powerful men’s
behavior after being
continues to happen.
associates and
Sexual harassment
given a free pass the
is a relatively new
first time?
colleagues
concept for us — the
If you’re still
already know.
term wasn’t coined
unsure what to do
until 1975 and
or if there’s even
protections for its
a problem, we
victims have faced an uphill climb
suggest you ask a simple question
ever since. But that gives no excuse to a woman in your life who you
for us to remain unaware of its
care about. “Have you ever been
pervasiveness, or look the other way sexually harassed or assaulted?”
as it goes on.
This question is especially
important for men to ask and
In the wake of the most recent
consider. It’s easy to dismiss a
complaints against film producer
Harvey Weinstein, celebrity women problem you’ve never dealt with,
but you may be surprised how close
began sharing their stories. The
to home it actually hits.
movement took off, and this week
The problem will always be with
women of all backgrounds joined
us, but keeping it covered in winks
in, sharing “Me too” on social
media to shine a light on the breadth and nods and knowing glances is not
acceptable. We must look it straight
of the problem. It’s a courageous
on, call it what it is and make it
act to admit being a victim, and
clear it’s not welcome in our society.
understanding that it’s not just a
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.
Be heard!
Comment online at www.eastoregonian.com
OTHER VIEWS
What’s behind Trump’s
new executive actions?
P
resident Trump’s most recent
That’s also consistent with what
high-profile executive actions —
Stanley Greenberg, the Democratic
on Obamacare, immigration and
pollster, found over the summer in
the Iran nuclear deal — do three big
a Macomb County, Michigan, focus
things.
group. “What many Macomb voters
First, they push Congress to act,
value about Trump is that he represents
which involves more than just calling
an unaligned force in American
the bluff of Republican leaders who
politics,” wrote The Atlantic’s Franklin
talked big during the Obama years
Foer of Greenberg’s findings.
Byron
but failed to produce once the GOP
It’s a scenario in which the GOP
York
controlled both Congress and White
leaders of Congress are the villains.
Comment
House. In a larger sense, Trump’s
When Greenberg showed those
actions point toward restoring a proper
Michigan voters photos of Senate
balance of power in which Congress makes
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House
law on issues that are clearly its constitutional
Speaker Paul Ryan, they became visibly
responsibility. The president is using executive angry. That’s also what the veteran Republican
authority to pressure lawmakers to exercise
operative found. “Trump’s supporters think it’s
appropriate legislative authority.
amazing he’s getting so much accomplished,
Second, Trump has reinforced what many
seeing how Ryan and McConnell are trying to
of his supporters find most appealing about
screw him every day,” the operative told me.
him — that he can act as a leader not clearly
Finally, on the third point, Trump is getting
aligned with either party.
high marks from some
And third, Trump’s
conservative Republicans
Some conservative
actions galvanize
and thinkers. When I asked
support among some
writers who have long one deeply conservative
of Washington’s most
lawmaker, who in turn
criticized Obama’s
conservative lawmakers
polled what other members
and thinkers, even some
told him, he said they
unilateral actions were had
who have been highly
are glad to see the president
critical of him in the past.
happy to see Trump putting Republicans to
On the first point,
test: Will they just talk
begin to undo them. the
Trump is pressing Congress
like conservatives, or will
to act in areas in which
they actually legislate like
Republicans accused
conservatives?
Barack Obama of executive overreach.
Some conservative writers who have long
On Obamacare, Trump cut off the flow of
criticized Obama’s unilateral actions were
cost-sharing reduction, or CSR, payments to
happy to see Trump begin to undo them.
insurance companies. The expenditures were
On Obamacare, National Review — which
never appropriated by Congress; the Obama
published an “Against Trump” issue in the
administration carried them out to keep
primaries and has had a bumpy relationship
Obamacare afloat, regardless of the law. Now
with the president since — reacted with
Trump has set the stage for a constitutional
an editorial headlined “Trump’s Sensible
fix. On DACA, Obama’s Deferred Action
Health-Care Actions.”
for Childhood Arrivals program, Trump
On DACA, a lot of conservatives slammed
has challenged Congress to come up with a
Trump when there were reports he had
legitimate fix to an Obama executive action
reached a “deal” with Democrats Charles
that all Republicans saw as overreach. And on Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. But now that
the Iran deal, Trump’s action opens the door
Trump has attached a wish-list of tough
for action in Congress, where Republicans
border and interior enforcement priorities
said the issue always belonged, after Obama
to any DACA legalization, many see it as
bypassed lawmakers.
a chance for Congress to take actual action
“Each action undoes what Obama ought
on immigration. (And even if Republicans
not have done without Congress (CSRs,
cave and pass a simple legalization,
DACA and Iran),” said a conservative
doing it through Congress would still be
lawmaker in a text exchange recently.
a constitutional solution, unlike Obama’s
“Restore constitutional government!”
original action.)
On the second point, Trump’s actions
On the nuclear deal, the Weekly Standard,
highlight the fact that a lot of his supporters
which has at times been a center of
still see him not as an insider but as an
NeverTrumpism, published a reaction with the
outside force pushing an entrenched, sclerotic
headline “He’s right about Iran.” “We believe
Republican Party to act.
(Trump’s) instincts are sound,” the magazine’s
That was candidate Trump’s pitch to
editors wrote.
voters, going way back. “Trump is about the
Trump’s actions might not work. After
closest thing to a third-party candidate without all, he is pressuring Congress to act, but that
having to leave the party,” Chuck Laudner,
doesn’t mean Congress will act, especially
who ran Trump’s Iowa campaign, told me in
when the president is feuding with some
May 2015, when crowds were starting to take
key members. But Trump’s moves are a step
Trump seriously.
in the direction of fixing some of the worst
Not much has changed since then. “To a
excesses of the Obama administration — if
huge chunk of the electorate, Trump is not a
Republicans will take the opportunity.
Republican,” a veteran GOP operative told
■
me recently, after attending focus groups in
Byron York is chief political correspondent
several states key to next year’s midterms.
for The Washington Examiner.
YOUR VIEWS
Walden cares about
Eastern Oregon issues
My wife and I have had the privilege
of knowing Greg Walden since we moved
to Oregon in 1989. Greg was representing
Oregonians in the Oregon House of
Representatives when I first met him and
was later elected to the Oregon Senate.
In 1999 Greg was elected to represent
Oregonians in the 2nd Congressional
District, a position he continues to fulfill
with integrity and vision.
Congressman Walden has always taken
the time to learn about and work with us
on issues important to our region. Vital
economic issues such as growing our job
base, prudent use of our natural resources
and diversified energy sources are all part
of his forward thinking agenda.
Congressman Walden understands the
importance and use of all types of domestic
energy. I have found that Congressman
Walden recognizes the connections
between capitalizing on America’s energy
abundances in hydropower, natural gas,
wind and coal, with improving our energy
infrastructure and job creation. Clean,
efficient hydropower generates 42 percent
of Oregon’s electricity generation needs.
As chair of the House Committee on
Energy and Commerce, he plays a key role
in shaping America’s energy and commerce
policies, including hydropower, Oregon’s
largest single producer of low cost power.
I appreciate the importance his role plays
in shaping the future of Oregon in critical
areas such as energy as well as many more.
Our region, as do others, shares a
passion for education and technology,
subjects that Greg supports in numerous
ways as we push forward to expand our
educated workforce.
The staff who expertly assist
Congressman Walden in the field and
Washington, D.C., are predominately
Oregonians. They do an outstanding job
listening and helping us with concerns
and issues along with providing Greg the
support he needs to effectively represent the
citizens of the 2nd Congressional District.
Please join us in supporting and voting
for Greg Walden to continue to represent us
in Congress.
Gary and Kathy Neal
Boardman
Another dangerous voice
given power
Angela Merkel won a fourth term as
Germany’s chancellor in the national
elections in September, although she lost
one million votes to the AfD, which now
will have a national platform on the floor of
the Bundestag where they can present their
noxious views.
The AfD campaigned against
immigration, in particular opposition to
Muslim immigrants, citing racial mixing
would create a mongrel people. The AfD
contend the German remembrance of the
Holocaust has become a cult of guilt, and
homosexuality as immoral.
The German media has contrasted
Germany’s political scene to that of
America’s, stating contempt, crude, ignorant
and vindictive language will become
ordinary with the rise of the far right.
With the AfD in government, most feel its
representation is a huge backward step for
Germany.
Chancellor Merkel is a practical leader,
unlike our impulsive Tweeter, and will
find most European countries behind her
— Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and
countries in support of the Paris Climate
Accord. It’s an alliance of pragmatism and
the United States is going to need them
if we go to war against another ignorant,
selfish, arrogant and unrealistic numskull.
Dr. Dorys C. Grover
Pendleton
LETTERS POLICY
The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues
and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our website. The newspa-
per reserves the right to withhold letters that address concerns about individual ser-
vices and products or letters that infringe on the rights of private citizens. Submitted
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published. Send letters to managing editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave.
Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.