On a national level, politicians of both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party have recently accused each other of "playing politics" with the debate over the proposed creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the possibility of war with Iraq.
Unfortunately, that debate is also playing out in a race for Congress in our immediate neighborhood. However, in the case of Washington's Third District -- which includes all of Skamania County -- there is little doubt that playing politics with these critical issues is at the top of the challenger's box of election tricks.
On Sept. 24, State Sen. Joe Zarelli, the Republican candidate, issued an aggressive and divisive press release attacking Brian Baird, the Democratic incumbent. The press release came under the headline, "Baird Must Take a Stand!"
Zarelli pointed to a speech last week by former Vice President Al Gore, who suggested that war with Iraq could make it more difficult to win the worldwide war against terrorism. Gore also said he believed the nation needed to have a plan for Iraq in the post-Saddam Hussein era.
Apparently, Zarelli does not believe any such issues should be discussed, and he proceeded to distort the thrust of Gore's speech in a nakedly partisan manner.
"Former Vice President Al Gore challenged President George Bush's efforts to defend the nation against the terrorist nation of Iraq," Zarelli charged in his press release. "The former vice president exhibited the appeasement policies of the past Clinton administration by expressing his views that the president should not be worried about Iraq."
Then Zarelli turned his tirade toward his personal election target: U.S. Rep. Brian Baird.
"Sen. Joe Zarelli today insisted that Congressman Baird show the leadership that the people of southwest Washington have entrusted him with, and denounce the former vice president, while supporting President Bush's ability to defend this nation," read the text of Zarelli's statement.
Charges such as this one from Zarelli's campaign headquarters in Vancouver do little to enlighten the electorate about the profound decisions the nation is currently weighing.
Mr. Gore is an American citizen, and has the same right as everyone else to air his views -- whether Joe Zarelli agrees with those views or not. It is not for Mr. Zarelli to decide who should be "denounced" for exercising his right to speak out.
Despite Zarelli's call, it is not Baird who ought to be explaining himself. Rather, it is Zarelli and his handlers who ought to explain -- and apologize -- for trying to push this type of nonsense on the voters of the Third District.
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