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Published 20 January 1998 in the News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
Correction
In a letter published Sunday responding to a recent column about the late Rep. Sonny Bono, reader James M. Wallace of Greensboro cited the constitutional qualifications for service in the U.S. House of Representatives. As the result of a typographical error the minimum age was given as 45 years old. The correct minimum age is 25.
Published 18 January 1998 in the News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
Note: Errors in published version are those of the News & Record's editors; please refer to submitted version below
Froma Harrop insulted memory of Sonny Bono
Why is it that those on the political left screech in moral indignation when the foibles of the dearly departed of their ilk (Ron Brown, Michael Kennedy, etc.) are mentioned after their deaths, but display no compunction while urinating on the graves of their opponents on the right?
Witness the exceptionally petty and extraordinarily mean-spirited attack on the late Representative Sonny Bono by Froma Harrop ("Bono was a clown, not a congressman," Jan. 12).
Contrary to her spurious assertions, Bono, as a member of the 1994 freshman class which won Republican control of Congress, was a foot soldier in the revolution to restore American civilization after 40-plus years of the Democrats' socialist depredations. As he was a second-term representative, it would be unreasonable to have expected him to be leading the charge. Even so, one must remember that even the greatest general accomplishes nothing without the devoted exertions of the lowliest private.
The constitutional qualifications for U.S. representative are to be "the age of 45 years,...seven years a citizen of the United States, and...an inhabitant of that state in which...chosen." Bono met those requirements and was duly elected twice by a majority of his district's voters. He may not have been a Sam Rayburn, but he was a congressman nonetheless.
I suppose Harrop and the News & Record think Ronald Reagan was just a B-movie actor, and not a president of the United States.
James M. Wallace
Greensboro
Original unedited Letter to the Editor as submitted to the News & Record (Greensboro, NC)
To the Editor:
Why is it that those on the political left screech in moral indignation when the foibles of the dearly departed of their ilk (Ron Brown, Michael Kennedy, etc.) are mentioned in memoriam, but display no compunction while urinating on the graves of their opponents on the right?
Witness the exceptionally petty and extraordinarily mean-spirited attack on the late Representative Sonny Bono by Froma Harrop ("Bono was a clown, not a congressman," Jan. 12).
Contrary to her spurious assertions, Bono, as a member of the 1994 freshman class which won Republican control of Congress, was a foot soldier in the revolution to restore American civilization after 40-plus years of the Democrats' socialist depredations. As he was a second-term representative, it would be unreasonable to have expected him to be leading the charge. Even so, one must remember that even the greatest general accomplishes nothing without the devoted exertions of the lowliest private.
The Constitutional qualifications for U.S. Representative are to be "the Age of twenty five Years, ... seven Years a Citizen of the United States, and ... an Inhabitant of that State in which ... chosen." Bono met those requirements and was duly elected twice by a majority of his district's voters. He may not have been a Sam Rayburn, but he was a congressman nonetheless.
I suppose Harrop and the News & Record think Ronald Reagan was just a B-movie actor, and not a President of the United States.
James M. Wallace
Addendum
If you doubt my characterization of this column, feel free to judge for yourself, though decency requires I caution that you risk befouling yourself if you do. The Standard-Times (New Bedford, MA) also published it on 10 January 1998 under the headline "Beneath the sunny surface, Bono's life nothing to praise".
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