Once again I find myself disagreeing with my friend Roy Exum. This time it is about his column on Jim Tracy who is running against the, "repugnant," Scott DesJarlais for Congress. The ad in question did not say anything that is not the truth. If as DesJarlais' mouthpiece said that referring to his sordid past is, "gutter" politics, then it was the Congressman who created the gutter.
Everyone certainly makes mistakes in life, goodness knows I have made my share. However being a hypocrite is not a mistake, it is a serious reflection of lack of character. I am actually a pro-choice Republican, however I certainly respect the opinion of my pro-life friends on both sides of the political aisle. What I don't respect is an individual who is pro-life except when it comes to his wife and mistress.
Having an affair is also a mistake. However violating the sacred trust of a patient while serving as that individual's physician is more than a mistake, it is a reflection on the lack of character of the doctor. As Mr. Tracy says, if we are going to clean up Washington, we have to start in our own party. If the good people of the Fourth District send DesJarlias back to Washington then we are no better than the party of Ted Kennedy, Bill Clinton and John Edwards.
Douglas Jones
Ooltewah
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Big difference in Scott Dejarlais and the folks you cite. He didn't do the things he is demonized for after being elected or even when he was was running for office. Also, he votes and has done his job exactly as he said he would when he was hired, or elected. That, my friends, is the reason you keep someone employed, when they do a job exactly in the manner you hire them to do.
Nothing against Jim Tracy, nice man, however, you keep a great employee and Scott DeJarlais has proven he is an above average employee. Good lord, compared to the rest of Congress, he is at the top of the excellent list, if you like a conservative voting record.
Joe Blevins