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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 2018)
Page 4A East Oregonian Thursday, June 21, 2018 CHRISTOPHER RUSH Publisher KATHRYN B. BROWN Owner DANIEL WATTENBURGER Managing Editor TIM TRAINOR Opinion Page Editor Founded October 16, 1875 OUR VIEW Statewide officials, statewide perspective A ballot initiative to carve California into three states reminds us of another idea that surfaced three years ago in eastern Oregon and Washington. It’s goal was to make those largely rural regions a part of Idaho, whose state government is more agriculture-friendly. Idaho leaders have staked the state’s future on agriculture, while many Washington and Oregon leaders appear to be more interested in other, more urbane pursuits. When they do take note of agriculture, they tend to focus only on certain niches instead of the overall industry. The proposals to redraw the borders of California, Oregon, Washington and Idaho are efforts to gain more recognition from statewide office holders. In California, a state with nearly 40 million people, the urban areas have an overwhelming amount of political clout in Sacramento. Farmers and ranchers find themselves ignored or treated as second-class Californians. Issues important to them often take a backseat to urban concerns, because that’s where the votes and the lobbyists are. While politicians are expected to represent their districts, they also have a duty to learn about and Associated Press represent the state as a whole. What’s good for Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego is important, but not to the detriment of the other parts of the state — and vice versa. A statewide perspective means keeping the interests of all Californians in mind. It’s the same way here in Oregon. Residents of our side of the state, and our rural neighbors to the north in Washington, depend on farming, ranching and timber, and are also underrepresented in Salem and Olympia. Geography doesn’t help — the fact that the Cascade Range splits the states makes the problem even worse. Westside politicians rarely make the trek over the mountains to the eastside — unless they are campaigning for office. If they win, eastside interests usually take a backseat to westside priorities. Proponents say splitting California or adding eastern Washington and Oregon to Idaho would provide a bigger voice for all in the new states. We doubt it. Drawing more lines on a map isn’t needed. What’s needed is politicians who take the time to learn about the rural areas of their states and look out for the interests of all citizens, not just those in their home districts with the biggest wallets. OTHER VIEWS What GOP suspects about FBI Trump-Russia probe T YOUR VIEWS We must strive for justice, not abject cruelty We can all do better. We can demand that the government deliver justice consistent with our values. 2,000 children are now being held in shelters and in some instances in temporary earthen shelters. On Monday, Dr. Colleen Kraft, current president of The American Academy of Pediatrics, visited a Texas facility for children ages 12 and under after her colleagues to her she needed to see what is happening. She reported that in a “toddler” shelter, she witnessed a 2-year-old girl crying uncontrollably. Those who supervised the infant were instructed that they were not allowed hold or comfort her. It doesn’t take a doctor to realized that this causes trauma. I am a retired from corrections and the justice system. I’m absolutely convinced that we can find solutions to our border issues without being cruel. Cruelty is not justice. Doug Harder Pendleton Policy of separating families has no place in this country This letter is directed to my current representative in Congress, Greg Walden: While I often disagree with your policies throughout the many years that you’ve served in Congress, I know you personally to be a dedicated representative that clearly has a grasp of issues important to eastern Oregonians. I appreciate your efforts to promote economic growth and family wage jobs for our local communities, and your work on behalf of veterans. However, I absolutely no longer trust you, the president, his administration or other silent members of Congress to represent the mission and values of the United States as an humanitarian country. The policy of separating children from parents at our southern border is cruel and unnecessary. The law does not require systematic separation of families entering the U.S. to flee persecution, crushing poverty, violence or danger in their home countries. Not only does it traumatize young children, it forces federal prosecutors to arrest, detain and prosecute every single “illegal entry” misdemeanor defendant, while they could be focusing on human trafficking, violent crime, financial fraud, drug cartels, etc. Do you agree with President Trump’s claim that Democrats actually want MS-13 gang members to “infest” our country because they “view gang members as potential voters?” This is not leadership. I’m dumbfounded that you apparently don’t recognize that this rhetoric and unnecessarily cruel policy won’t work toward finding a solution to deterring illegal immigration. Are you afraid to publicly rebuke the heroic lack of integrity and leadership of the current administration because of a possible voter backlash, preventing you from re-election? I’m disappointed in the United States abdication of global leadership in many areas including humanitarian issues, climate change and trade policy. It’s especially disheartening to watch silent members of congress stand by and allow it. Dee Holzman Hood River CONTACT YOUR PRESIDENT Donald Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ he struggle to uncover the Hurricane, on July 31, 2016. FBI’s conduct in the Trump- Starting in late May or early June 2016, a Cambridge University Russia probe has made some professor named Stefan Halper, congressional investigators deeply who was a longtime FBI informant, suspicious of the bureau. But contacted Page, and also Trump what do those investigators think campaign official Sam Clovis, actually happened in the Trump- and finally Trump volunteer Russia affair — at least, what do adviser George Papadopoulos, they think the FBI did? Byron seeking contacts and information First, they’re convinced the York Comment on the campaign. The Daily FBI has something to hide. In Caller’s Chuck Ross has reported the last 12 months, the bureau that Halper “randomly asked has, at various times, ignored, Papadopoulos whether he knew about slow-walked, resisted and downright Democratic National Committee emails stonewalled congressional requests, not to mention subpoenas, for information on the that had been hacked and leaked by Russians.” Trump-Russia investigation. In early June 2016, a Russian lawyer Each time the bureau hunkered down, who was working closely with the suspicion grew on Capitol Hill. The FBI opposition research firm Fusion GPS, seemed particularly reluctant to reveal to which had commissioned the Trump Congress not what Russians did, or what dossier, asked for and received a meeting people in the Trump circle did, but what with top Trump campaign officials, the bureau itself did. including Donald Trump Jr., by promising When did the investigation start? How dirt on Clinton. The meeting came to did it start? What measures did the FBI, nothing. its lawyers and its informants employ? In late May 2016, a Russian who had Getting facts out of the FBI has been a apparently been an FBI informant for years long and arduous task. contacted an associate of Trump campaign First to cause serious suspicion was official Michael Caputo, and later met the Trump dossier. Eyebrows were raised with Trump figure Roger Stone, reportedly when investigators learned that the FBI, offering dirt on Hillary Clinton. Stone told at the height of the 2016 presidential The Washington Post the Russian asked for campaign, offered to hire a former British $2 million, and the meeting went nowhere. spy who was collecting allegations about The Russian said he was not working for Trump and Russia. the FBI when he met Stone. House Intelligence Committee Stone has on a variety of occasions Chairman Rep. Devin Nunes pushed denied he met with any Russians during for information. Among other things, the campaign — so take that into account he learned that the former British spy, when considering his credibility. The well-connected with the FBI, was paid problem for congressional investigators by the Hillary Clinton campaign and the is that the probe has become a two-front Democratic National Committee. That battle: dealing with the untrustworthiness apparently did not matter to the bureau. of some of the figures in the investigation, Then Nunes and others wondered: while also fighting the FBI to learn the What did the bureau do with the basic facts of what happened. sensational allegations in the dossier? Lawmakers would not be shocked that That gave birth to the so-called “FISA Roger Stone might lie to them. But they abuse” investigation, when Republicans expect the FBI to be open and transparent looked into whether the FBI used with constitutionally empowered oversight unverified allegations from the Trump committees. dossier in proceedings before the Foreign The bottom line is that some Intelligence Surveillance Act court. It Republicans are wondering whether in turned out the FBI did just that, to win a the above instances, and perhaps others, wiretap on Carter Page, who for a short time was a volunteer on candidate Trump’s someone actively tried to frame or entrap or set up Trump figures. And they wonder foreign policy advisory board. Congressional investigators came away whether the FBI knew about it or played some sort of role in it. with the impression that the FBI was The suspicions are behind the hiding something. It was. House move to force the FBI to give Now, Congress is trying to get up information. Last Friday, top House information about the informant(s) the lawmakers met with bureau and FBI used in the Trump-Russia probe, and Justice Department officials to demand precisely what those informants did. compliance with House subpoenas. As part of that line of inquiry, Some Republicans believe the FBI will, investigators have discovered a number finally, comply. Maybe that will happen, of instances in which Trump figures were and maybe it won’t. But the only thing approached, sometimes by people with FBI connections, with offers of derogatory that can reduce suspicion in the current information on Clinton. Each incident was atmosphere is more openness. ■ before the FBI says it began the Trump- Byron York, The Washington Examiner Russia investigation, code-named Crossfire 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 newspaper reserves the right to withhold letters that address concerns about individual services and products or letters that infringe on the rights of private citizens. Letters must be signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime phone number. The phone number will not be published. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send letters to managing editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.
