WOLKENHAUER: Is it a witch hunt?

I’ve never met Sam Wolkenhauer. I’ve never attended one of his economics presentations. The only thing I know about him is that over the years I’ve seen his photograph in the Press, documenting a number of local economics presentations he’s made at various forums.

But after reading the Investigate West exposé, republished in the July 13 and 14 Cd’A Press, front page for each day, the only thoughts that now come to my mind about Sam Wolkenhauer are “anti-Semite, anti-LGBTQ, pro-Russian, far right, white supremacist and Nazi lover.” Different words, however, may also be relevant. How about “supposition, conjecture, and character assassination”? I can’t recall any recent non-CdA Press-written or Associated Press published local witch hunt attacking a person’s character to such a degree.

The stigma is now there. Which local organization would like to invite him to speak next? Would you like to take such a risk and have your organization stigmatized with his name attached? I wonder if the Idaho Department of Labor should now reconsider his employment.

To repeat, I’ve never met Sam. Maybe I’d actually like his economic thoughts. Maybe he’s a nice guy. What is the real reason his name has been intentionally been dragged through the mud? If he’s cancelled, we may never know.

TOM HANLEY

Post Falls