Letters

Romer does not realize that most people in Colorado are not sodbusters just off the turnip truck. They do see the folly and nonsense of the sixteen-year relationship that was being sold as platonic and full of meaning.

Keep up the fine work. Maintain this ability to deflate bloated egos. You are the last hope of honesty and taste.

Tom Turnquist
Lakewood

Calhoun's "Sealed With a Kiss" surprised me for two reasons: first, to see Westword take the moral high road along with the rest of America on politicians' affairs, and second, to hear Calhoun sound spiteful of backlash against Westword's article in 1990.

Exactly what laws have been broken here? A boss falls in love with an employee (boy, that's never happened before). Was there a relationship prior to B.J. Thornberry's gaining a job for the state, implying favoritism of employment? Did she receive any lucrative pay raises that would also indicate favoritism?

America has determined that having an affair is now a criteria for political office. How that affects a person's ability to do the job is beyond me. When has a person ever been asked if they have had an affair in their life on a job interview? Because of this situation, politicians are forced to lie in order to get the job. Then, if they are caught, they get lynched. America creates the problem, then hangs itself. Politicians can never satisfy everybody's feelings on all matters morally. Should they be held to such scrutiny when they are not breaking any laws?

Finally, for a paper that ran a negative comic on John Denver immediately after his death to be so sensitive to backlash about an article written years ago on the governor's affair indicates a possible identity crisis.

Jim Hood
Denver

Congratulations, Westword! Our good governor Roy Romer and Betty Jane Thornberry are having a long-term relationship--who is surprised? Westword once again scoops the national media and the local press (by about eight years, but the local guys already knew). Westword proves that the rest of the media in the state continues to be the mouthpiece of the Democratic Party.

I have been a member of the Republican Party for over twenty years, but I am now considering changing my affiliation to the Democrats because Bill "I Didn't Inhale" Clinton and oatmeal-eating Roy Romer's family values sound a whole lot more fun than the family values of the Republicans. Now, where did I put that "spousal agreement form" the Democratic National Committee sent me?

Hey, intern, remember: We are not having a relationship.
Don Lewis
via the Internet

I think the media often goes beyond reporting and crosses into tabloid and yellow journalism. The most recent allegations against Romer--my gosh, a romance! How horrid! It's like asking someone, "When did you stop beating your wife?" The more you try to say it, the worse it gets.

Even if the story were true, we didn't hire the guy to be a saint. I am not against fidelity in marriage, but what goes on there is not our business. In this time of relentless snooping and spying on anyone in the public's eye, it is impossible to have a life, and that's not the least bit fair. I doubt there are many of us who could stand much digging into our pasts; situations can easily be misconstrued by those bent on burning us at their private-agenda stakes.

I want the news of the world, the state, the economy, taxes, the elderly, Medicare, the environment, how kids are doing, how the police are doing, how about the Olympics? We have got to get out of the bedroom. I resent the media assuming that is all I care about--sleaze and more sleaze. I don't like the sources, I don't like the presentation. I think Romer has been a fine governor. Let him go to a marriage counselor if he needs one, but that is not our business, and obsessing on it prevents him from doing the business we hired him for.

Leslie Aguillard
via the Internet

Many thanks to your paper for telling us the truth. We here in Colorado Springs cannot get it except through you. Please, let's get rid of Romer.

Alan Weegens
via the Internet

I sent the following to Insight magazine: You are so behind the times, and thank God the people of Colorado have more good sense than you. In this state, we elect officials to do a job...and in case you haven't noticed, our governor has turned this into one of the most productive, well-educated and economically sound states in this country. We have counties growing at lightning speeds, a computer industry that rivals the Silicon Valley, and an education system that boasts the number-one high-school principal in America. Take a look back where we were before Governor Romer took office. But, of course, maybe we should have said no to his election based on your trash--and then what a lucky state we would be!

L. Cucinella
via the Internet

How is it that the state can turn a blind eye to this kind of news? We don't have to put up with this type of behavior from people we put into office. Clear the whole lot of 'em out! No one is above the law!

Nora Alvarado
via the Internet

If Westword has the slightest thought of reviving the Romer sex scandal, don't. The main problem with Westword is too many words. You can beat a story to death even before the end of the story. You people rarely write articles; you write novels. You have already done this one. So let it die. If I read another story about another politician's sex life, I hope to vomit on the editor's desk.

Steve Chain
via the Internet

Letters policy: Westword wants to hear from you, whether you have a complaint or compliment about what we write from week to week. Letters should be no more than 200 words; we reserve the right to edit for libel, length and clarity. Although we'll occasionally withhold an author's name on request, all letters must include your name, address and telephone number. Write to:

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Westword
PO Box 5970
Denver, CO 80217
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Missed a story? The entire editorial contents of Westword, dating back to July 1, 1996, are available online at www.westword.com/archive/index.html