That might be a bit harsh
I’m actually kind of surprised that a newspaper printed this, but one letter to the editor in the Daily Capitol Journal might have gone a little over the line:
Physical disability makes Johnson unable to lead
Dear Editor:
Tim Johnson is unable to participate in any debates.
If one has ever visited our legislators in Washington, you will know that our representatives need to be physically capable of moving vigorously from place to place.
It is obvious that Tim Johnson’s health will not permit him such movement. Tim cannot even say, “My name is Tim Johnson and I approve this message.” Tim is a good fellow but he is obviously incapable of effectively representing South Dakota in the U.S. Senate.
I think I’ll disagree with this one.
It’s not a matter of whether or not the Senator has a disability. A disability does not disqualify one from office, and to think that it would is unfair. Many with disabilities have served their country with honor and distinction. The man who assumed the Governorship from disgraced Elliot Spitzer is legally blind. No one questions his ability to do the job on the basis of his disability. He doesn’t hide behind it. He just does his job.
The concern and remaining questions over Senator Johnson’s stroke-like brain injury is that his staff had sheltered him relentlessly, and do yet to this day. And despite claims that he’s able to perform every function required of his position, at the same time he claims he can do the job, he refuses to do one of the most important ones – to debate.
From the relentless stalking of Steve Kirby this past winter, we know his people will stoop to nothing to get their man elected. So, the electorate doesn’t have a good feel on who or what to believe when it comes to the truthfulness of things coming from Team Johnson.
They’d have us believe that all the important work happens in committee, such as with the Senator’s position on the Banking Committee. And we see how well that worked, haven’t we? As the senator nakedly took donations from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and their staff for his committee work, we can see the results of his leadership, or lack thereof.
So pardon South Dakotans if we’re doubting thomases at this point when it comes to being told what the important work is in Washington.
When it comes to unanswered questions as to whether we’re hearing the truth or simply propaganda from his staff who’s main goal is to retain their job come next January, not having seen that the Senator can advocate for South Dakota in the form of debating issues, we’re legitimately left wondering whether our Senator can represent us in Washington.
Whether anyone likes it or not.
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Comments
The writer of this is not saying that people with disabilities cannot perform a job. He is simply saying what many of us have been saying for months, that Johnson’s particular disabilities do prevent him from carrying out many of the duties associated with his office.
grudznick, from 1960 to 1976 there were no presidential debates for the US presidency. Fast forward to 2008 and the country is still here, the world did not come to an end and the sky did not fall. South Dakota will survive too without Senate debates. The writer of the referenced letter to the editor was merely expressing an opinion. An opinion which does not make him right.
Perhaps it was an opinion. His. My opinion, which seems to be firming up by the day, is that I cannot vote for Sen. Johnson again, as I have in the past. I cannot vote for a representative who only communicates in sound bites through the media.
That’s not an opinion that makes me right or wrong. But it is my choice. Jardson lost my vote by being a “clam-puppet.”
What would really convince me to vote for Tim is for him to release a list of his main senator responsibilites, and a brief explanation why he believes his disabilities do not disqualify him from performing each of those resposnibilities. When I think of a high functioning but severely disabled person, I think of Stephen Hawkins, the famous physicist and renound genius. The guy has very limited physical abilities, yet he is active in his work dealing with the vast issues of the universe. Can a disabled Tim Johnson be active in his work dealing with the vast issues of our country? That’s the question I’m wating for Tim to address.
Johnson 62 Dykstra 38. Tim gets another six years. Maybe Joel will stop bitching about the debates in 2011 or so.
Todd Epp
SD Watch
http://www.southdakotawatch.net
If Johnson wins, maybe people will START bitching MORE about the debates that weren’t. Many of us listened to the Senate debates about the financial crisis on TV. True, not all debated, but Johnson is the only one who could not. South Dakota needs the best total representaion it can get.
Thsi is not to say Johnson isn’t a nice guy, not to say he hasn’t performed well, mediocre, or poorly depending on each person’s opinion, not to say he hasn’t and doesn’t continue to try hard, but he really does not have the necessary skills for this job.
And it’s not my responsibility to provide a job for Jarding or any other staff person of any political persuasian. It IS a Senator’s job to provide ME with me with total representation.
A few days ago I had the opportunity to informally sit down with Tim Johnson and a few other people for an hour to discuss issues facing the country–from the $700B economic action by Congress and the Administration to health care and onto other things. I noticed several things in addition to his physical limitations when compared to visits I have had with him prior to the injury he experienced. First, as in past years, he did a whole lot more listening than speaking. Second, when appropriate he asked clarifying questions to get a better picture of the topics before us. Third, he was able to state, albeit somewhat slowly, his positions on the subject at hand. Finally, when we moved to non-political topics–baseball for instance–he was able to hold his own as well.
Yes, he had staff there as well–much as Herseth-Sandlin and Thune have staff in tow. He continued to demonstrate a fine grasp of the issues.
I will not vote Johnson! Plain, simple, truthful, etc we need a change in the senate…may I say a major change.
Nice numbers, Todd. And those are the ones that came out just a week or so ago. Talk about the gap narrowing! Man, Dykstra might come within 20 points!!!
Let’s just clarify the first line of that letter. He’s not unable to, he just doesn’t care to. Dykstra isn’t a serious opponent and Tim’s speech isn’t where he would like it to be yet – but it’s improving.
I know you think the letter’s harsh, Pat – but not so harsh you couldn’t re-post it here and revive the dead horse that Dykstra keeps trying to ride.
Todd,
With that level of confidence:
What odds will you give me that Dykstra wins? Or I’ll bet take the under.
PP: I think your focus was on the percieved physical disabilities facing TJ. That may or may not hamper him in his being as inefficient as ever. However, the more compelling reason to send TJ to pasture is the cognitive and speech disabilities that he has. He can’t formulate sentences with clarity to promote SD positions pure and simple. He has no business in this race or in the Senate for that matter. The blind governor can think, articulate and speak clearly. Johnson cannot. That’s the difference.
Second chair of the banking committee, getting $61K from the Fanny and Freddy morons, 90/100 in senator effectiveness, mind numbing cognitive disabilities, inability to debate, what more do you need to prove his unfitness???? If TJ wins, we(or the boneheads that vote for him) deserve everything we get.
PP, I think Governor Paterson would be very surprised to learn that he is a Republican. Last time I checked he was a Democrat.