This page was last updated on March 17, 2015.
Idaho Republicans shamed the party; Oren M. Spiegler; Beaver County Times; March 14, 2015. This letter appeared on the BCT website on 3/14/15 but did not appear in the print edition until 3/17/15.
Mr. Spiegler is such a prolific letter writer the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review gave him a little tribute back in 2003. Google “Oren M. Spiegler” and you’ll get more hits than you know what to do with. Unfortunately, prolific is not a synonym for competent. Mr. Spiegler claims to be a Republican. In my critique of “Breathing more freely,” I cited reasons why I was “beginning to believe Mr. Spiegler is simply another Republican impersonator,” but he sealed the deal with “Greatest foreign policy debacle.” Subsequent letters provided more confirmation. The group of local Republican impersonators also includes Messrs. William A. Alexander, Arthur Brown, Edward J. Hum, Bill Ralston, and George Reese, all claiming to be disgruntled Republicans. While he has previously claimed to be a Republican, this appears to be the first time Mr. Spiegler claimed to be a registered Republican in a BCT letter. If true, Mr. Spiegler joins Mr. Hum in going the extra mile to further his impersonation of a Republican.
You can find links to previous critiques of Spiegler letters I critiqued here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.
The BCT has or had a limit of 12 letters per writer per year. In 2014, the BCT either ditched that limit or made a huge exception for Mr. Spiegler. By my count, the BCT published at least 25 Spiegler letters in 2014.
Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.
“As a registered Republican, I am mortified that fellow members of my party who are Idaho state senators boycotted a legislative session opening prayer because it was offered by a Hindu chaplain. One of those who sought to justify her actions stated that she stayed away because this is a Christian nation. Oh yes, the heck with those ‘pesky’ Hindus, Muslims, Jews, atheists and agnostics. Who needs them in our country? Such people are not ‘our kind’ and Hindus do not look like us.”
[RWC] Mr. “registered Republican” Spiegler (See above.) failed to mention he’s writing about three “fellow member[s] of [his alleged] party.” The other 25 Republican senators did not boycott the prayer. Mr. Spiegler also failed to mention Republican President pro Tempore Brent Hill invited Rajan Zed, the guest chaplain.
“It is because of the actions of ‘leaders’ like these that all of us Republicans are often portrayed as ignorant, intolerant and hateful.”
[RWC] What BS! Does Mr. Spiegler forget the Democrat party has been the home of the “intolerant and hateful” since before the Civil War, even filibustering the 1964 Civil Rights Act? Someone like Mr. Spiegler portrays Republicans “as ignorant, intolerant and hateful” because he can’t debate and win the issues using facts.
“The ‘controversial’ message delivered by the chaplain promoted selflessness and peace, but anything that would come from the lips of a ‘non-believer’ was too much for the self-righteous and pompous Christians.
“We have witnessed another instance in which individuals who are anything but holy seek to wrap themselves in religion. For shame.”
[RWC] You have to appreciate the hypocrisy. Mr. Spiegler is “anything but” a Republican yet wraps himself up as a registered Republican.
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