Audio By Carbonatix
“Year in Review,” December 25, 2014
His and Slurs
Your Year in Review issue is always entertaining, but this version unnecessarily promoted a local journalist who has already gotten more than enough publicity at the expense of an honorable civil servant.
During the U.S. Senate race, Republican operatives were frustrated by the Democrats’ hammering of Cory Gardner on two important issues: integrity and reproductive freedom. In an attempt to widen his appeal, Gardner had modified his previously hard-line stance on reproductive rights, announcing that he no longer supported “personhood” — yet he continued to sponsor a federal personhood law. The Udall campaign rightly pointed out that this halfhearted flip-flop put Gardner’s basic integrity in doubt.
Desperate to counter Udall, Republican strategists decided to distract voters by re-framing the Democrats’ campaign not as an attack on Gardner’s integrity — Gardner continued to stonewall about his inconsistent views — but instead as a “single-issue” campaign by Udall in support of abortion. And then these same GOP strategists came up with a new, childish and insulting nickname for Senator Udall, to tie everything together nicely. In a move reminiscent of the GOP’s 2008 emphasis on Barack Obama’s middle name, or suggestions that “Obama” sounded like “Osama,” they came up with “Mark Uterus.”
Of course, the nickname was silly and disrespectful — not only to Senator Udall, but to women, in trivializing the issue of reproductive freedom. In addition, it wouldn’t have gotten any traction coming directly from these shady, Koch-funded operatives. Instead, someone from the mainstream media had to be persuaded to repeat this cynically manufactured nickname in prime time. Along came Lynn Bartels.
And once Ms. Bartels had legitimized the nickname, other news media picked up on it. Because after all, they were now just repeating what the Denver Post had called Senator Udall. All but forgotten in the followup were the original source of the nickname and the questions about candidate Gardner’s ethics and integrity. Mission accomplished. It was like a plot twist from House of Cards.
Rolf Asphaug
Centennial
“Making It,” Joel Warner, January 1
Life Craft
Thank you for the article on Craftsy. I was a social worker for twenty years. Four years ago, I underwent surgery due to degenerative spine disease. Although it helped ease the pain, I found myself on disability. I was very depressed when I learned that I would not be able to return to work. I had nothing to do except watch TV. While on the Internet, I ran across Craftsy and took a chance on a class: Stupendous Stitching with Carol Waugh. I have to say, this class got me up and moving and enjoying my days again. Years ago, I drew in pencil — portraits and landscapes. I still do some hand-stitching but have moved on to the acrylics classes.
I no longer consider myself to be on disability: I’ve retired early to enjoy my hobbies and passions. Thank you for acknowledging this great company.
Gail Miller
Denver