Editor, Times-Union: I feel that I have to respond to a letter to the editor titled “Respect Required” by Monica Boyer on Friday, Jan. 20. To be fair I did have a phone conversation with Monica regarding her letter.
First of all, the RTW informational meeting was sponsored by the United Steelworkers, not by the Democrats nor myself. The meeting was opened to everyone and was not a closed door “town hall.” My wife and I were there to learn just like everyone else. I had no speaking parts nor did I make a statement during the event.
Next, she said that it was a “hateful Republican bash” and no facts were offered. I disagree with that statement. It was a “hateful bash” only if you supported RTW. The Republicans (Wolkins and Kubacki) were being bashed only because they support RTW. If Democrats supported RTW, they would have been bashed as well. The F bomb was used by a few, but this is a hot button issue with many working families.
She also said the I knew that Mr. Wolkins was in the hospital on Sunday. Untrue statement. Per my conversation with Mr. Wolkins, I knew that he would not be attending and was to have tests done on the following Monday. He also told me that he supports RTW and that was his position.
She then said she was receiving emails from the Democrats and that I wanted to removed her from our data base immediately. That statement is true.
Monica then said that we “only had seven Democrats in the whole county.” This is simply not true. Our own polling shows that we are now up to nine and could break into double digits any day.
But my favorite was the last one. You said that "thanks to me" your husband has been marked and tagged. For what? I have nothing to do with anyone wanting to tar and feather your husband. Rather than blaming me for your husband’s woes at work, ask him what he is saying or doing to his co-workers, he might find the problem there.
As I said at the start of this letter, Monica and I talked and have found some common ground on the RTW issue. A Democrat and a TEA Party Republican agreeing on a issue, did the world just end?
Terry Bartley, Chairman Kosciusko County Democrats Claypool, via e-mail
