I do not know Ben Westlund, nor have I ever met him, but for the past four days The Bulletin has been crying out “Crucify him, Crucify him, Crucify him.” These words have a Biblical ring to them and have now taken on a more contemporary rendition. Ben Westlund was apparently guilty of an indiscretion in his past, some years back, which should have been done and over with but The Bulletin seems determined to “hang him on the cross of shame.” If this isn’t political revenge, what do you call it? Ben apparently went from being a Republican to an Independent to a Democrat. Apparently “revenge is sweet” with The Bulletin. It has been said that “Politics is a dirty game.” The Bulletin played this game with a vengeance much to its disgrace. My mother once taught me that if you can’t say anything good about a person don’t say anything at all. Oh yes, you might like to recall the Biblical adage, “He who is without sin, cast the first stone.”
The Rev. Dr. Earl R. Modean
This article appears in Aug 14-20, 2008.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
Modean:
Westlund’s motto should be, “he who is without stones, should cast the first sin.” Peccadillos aside, I question the reality and truthfulness of serial epiphanies that can transport you from Republican to Independent to Democrat in the same political lifetime. This diarrhea of inconsistency is either a rampant case of crass ever evolving political expediency or a severe case of whirling pinheadedness. This is flip-flop-flip to the point of flip right out.
How can any reality based cognisant person take this rather feckless, meandering buffoon seriously?
Westlund got exactly what he deserved in The Bulletin. He’s jerked people around and shown everyone what a chameleon he can be to get what he wants. Which we all know in the long run is the Governor’s seat in the state of Oregon.
Where was this political forgiveness a few years age when Bob Packwood was crucified?
Reactions about Westlund, either way, would be more palatable if they were dealt with an even hand. What we have in this country is one set of rules for Democrats and another for Republicans. The bias in the press, including the Source, is sickening.