Letter to the editor: response to a letter

In response to a letter

Today is June 26. I want to make a point of documenting the day this letter was written and submitted in order to provide perspective for anyone reading it.

Normally, I refrain from rebutting letters that express different view points than mine.

I appreciate the fact that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and it’s usually not very likely that I will succeed in changing the opinion of someone who already has their opinion solidified by their own set of “facts.”

That being said, I must comment on the contents of a letter from Will Elliott that was printed in the Daily Inter Lake along side my letter about a meeting in Polson on April 29. 

It’s interesting to note that Mr. Elliott was surprised that Mr. Rehberg didn’t spend time “tooting his own horn about ‘his’ accomplishments in Congress.”

I happen to concur with a significant number of his constituents who feel that the reason for this is the fact that he has no ‘accomplishments’ about which to ‘toot.’

As I mentioned in my previous letter, there were inquiries, politely posed, questioning his voting record regarding Planned Parenthood, Pell Grants and extended tax benefits for the wealthy, which were essentially defended rather than explained.

With regard to Mr. Elliott’s perception that I only attended the meeting to “agitate the crowd,” let me just say that had he been more inclined to listen to what I was trying to say instead of joining the cacophony created by his discourteous friends, it would have been quite clear that my intention was to encourage better cooperation in Congress. What Mr. Elliott labels “bellowing to the crowd”  was simply a matter of me using an appropriate level of volume to try and be heard.

I do have to agree with Mr. Elliott about the fact that Lake County people are “...just as respectful as any across America.” It’s unfortunate that the actions of those who attended the “listening” session that day did not do a very good job of representing their neighbors.

I would certainly hope that their actions at the meeting do not reflect how they “... respect also the open forum which gives both sides a chance to speak.”

Again, Mr. Elliott, you are welcome to your opinion, but in my opinion no one should be subjected to the kind of rude treatment that was rendered me at the meeting on April 29.

Edd Blackler,

Bigfork, MT