Democrats want rude behavior halted now
Earlier this week, I committed a journalistic sin.
Perhaps the average reader didn’t notice or even care, but it’s important so I need to explain.
When I’m writing an opinion column — like this one, with my picture right there and everything — it’s basically OK to sound off on anything that crosses my mind, as long as I don’t libel anyone with statements that I know are false.
But when anyone on our staff writes a news story, like basic coverage of an event, an announcement, a trial or whatever, our job is to stick with facts.
It’s fine to ask eyewitnesses what they saw, or economics experts about the job market — then quote any of these folks in a story if we feel their statements will help our readers put the news into proper context.
What we CANNOT do is let our personal feelings bleed over into what should be a straight news piece.
I screwed up, pretty much because the subject seemed meaningful, I was rushing to meet a deadline, and thus my own opinions seeped into parts of a news story.
THIS QUICK trip through Journalism 101 is necessary today because the circumstances that enticed me into an error may very well come up again tonight.
No, I won’t make the same mistake with my story — but beyond that, I’m hoping we don’t have a repeat performance of the events that lured me into making such a goof in the first place.
The first event was Monday night’s town hall at North Idaho College. All three state legislators from District 4 were present to speak with constituents and answer questions — Sen. Mary Souza and Reps. Luke Malek and Paul Amador.
Through the course of the evening, all three were treated very rudely by a minority in the audience. There were people present who wanted, basically, to sound off because of frustration with President Trump on the issues of climate change and health care.
There were several angry ambushes and almost non-stop shouting, and it made me mad.
Thus when I hustled off to write a story of the event, my frustration with the foul language and constant disruptions caused me to inject personal thoughts about that into a news account.
My bad.
THE KEY message right now, however, is that all the hostile noise and abuse won’t work.
Paula Neils, the Kootenai County Democratic Chair, was also present Monday night — and she made it crystal clear that rude, shouting tactics will not help the cause.
“This has been becoming a trend for some reason,” Neils said, “this business of using foul language and trying to shout people down.
“We as a group do not condone it, we don’t believe it works, and in fact, it probably causes everyone to ignore what you’re saying — even if you have a good point.
“We’ve been harping on this since the election in November, that we can’t change anything or get a message across just by yelling.”
The reason for discussing this today is that a bigger target — U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador — will be hosting a town hall discussion this evening at Lake City High.
NEILS HAS been busy talking to others in the local Democratic community, making sure no one THEY know does or says anything truly stupid at the Labrador event.
“We may try to have someone ask one of the first questions,” she said, “so they can include a message to progressives and others who may disagree with Rep. Labrador that we need to be civil.
“This rudeness is a legitimate concern, and something that we’ll have to really monitor going forward.”
That is good news, for lots of reasons.
Our political discourse has become ugly and divisive enough without piling on more abuse.
I can tell you without hesitation that I learned my own lesson about becoming inflamed — and not by issues, but by behavior.
So can we stop all the nonsense?
Please?
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Steve Cameron is a special assignment reporter for The Press. Email Steve at: scameron@cdapress.com.