A Note from Champion News re “Andy Martin Lifted Some Material”
The Champion
5 January 2010
4 Comments
A candidate for U.S. Senate (Andy Martin) lifted some material from our radio show without consulting us. But Jack Roeser has and wants nothing to do with Andy Martin. Further, Jack stands behind what he said with respect to Mark Kirk on our radio show. Jack spoke the truth – specifically that it’s a fact that rumors have been widespread for a long time with regard to Mark Kirk. That’s a fact, not a smear.
For anyone to repeat an unverified rumor is an abuse of the First Amendment. The fact that a rumor has been spread does not make the rumor a fact. If someone feels that they have been defamed, libeled or slandered they have legal recourse, but would have to go through a discovery process which might in itself be a deterrent to suing (if the rumor were indeed true). Truth, particularly when accompanied by an absence of malice becomes a defense.
The whole thing is rather complicated. What I find objectionable in any discussion of any person’s private life is the invasion of privacy.
A person who is a hypocrite becomes fair game for discussing the differences between what he or she says and what he or she does. Those who have been involved have a right to complain if they have been deceived. But I do not believe that Mark Kirk falls into either of these categories.
Two of my favorite legislators are Barney Frank and Tom Coburn. One is more liberal than I, the other more conservative. One is openly gay, the other is openly heterosexual. But I consider each of them valuable to our democratic process. I think its fair to say that Congressman Frank would have a difficult time getting elected in Oklahoma, and Senator Coburn would have a probably more difficult time getting elected in Boston.
But I’m happy to have them both in the Congress.
I suspect that this issue is not going away soon, which is unfortunate but not unpredicatable. The fact that Tom Roeser has discussed the matter, explaining that he is not Jack Roeser, is a good example that reponsible parties have found a way to talk about a matter which if it had only been raised by Andy Martin (the former Anthony R. Martin Trigona) would not have made the mainstream.
What disturbs me the most about Mr. Martin is his claim to have been as Assistant to the late Senator Paul Douglas. I believe that Bill Singer, Connie Arndt Singer and I are among the last of the living Douglas employees at any level. Mr. Martin was not.
Phil Krone should check the records of the Illinois Supreme Court. Senator Paul Douglas wrote to the Court accusing them of harassing me. The claim that Mark Kirk’s “private life” has been invaded as a result of his decision to seek national office is nonsense. If Krone really believes he’s glad Barney Frank is in Congress Krone should have his head examined.
Andy Martin
I do not know whether Senator Douglas wrote a letter to the Supreme Court or not. I would be happy to read anything which Mr. Martin (formerly Martin- Trigona) would provide from those records or even look up the information if he would provide citations or references. However, what I said was that Mr. Martin, then Mr. Nartin-Trigona was never an assistant to Senator Douglas. I made no reference to any intercession that the Senator may or may not have made on behalf of a consitutent.
Secondly, a person who seeks any office should not to be required automatically open up their entire life to public scrutiny. There are differences between public and private lives, but hypocrisy and deceit are not valid.
As far Congressman Barney Frank is concerned, he continues to be re-elected by his constitutents and I am happy to see democracy work, even when I disagree with the result.
I strongly support Mr. Martin’s right to run for public office, but I do believe it is not unfair to speak out when he says something which is not accurate.
I would not suggest that he have his head examined, though it might be useful for him to donate his brain and other organs to science after he passes on which I hope is a long time from now.
To report what other people are saying without any verification is gossiping, not Journalism.
To claim that one is only repeating what one heard while making sure more people hear it is not a defense, or an excuse.
I would wonder what I should take from his considering it to be relevant about how either Mr. Roeser or Mr. Martin would legislate or govern?
I already know how using non-facts to try sway the electorate suggests how they might govern.
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