<p>For more than half a century, I have been more than just a consumer of news. I have been the subject of thousands of news articles and interviews. At times in my life, I have been part of the Fourth Estate as a talk show host and columnist. In my business, I have represented individuals, companies, associations and candidates in interfacing with the press.</p>
<p>I am also an older white man, and if that is not bad enough, I am a conservative Republican. And even worse, I am a supporter of most of President Trump’s policies although not his personality. You never seem to understand that – or maybe it does not serve your biased interests to accept the reality of millions who can see that distinction.</p>
<p>Despite your attempts to smear people like me, I am not a racist. I have won awards for my work on promoting equality and black aspirations. In many of my professional and civil positions, I have elevated minorities to positions of leadership – in many cases for the first time. For more than 40 years, I have raised a black daughter.</p>
<p>I am not xenophobic. I strongly believe in the importance and benefits of a legal immigration system. Since you seem to have no other way to defend your acceptance of open borders and illegal entry, you wrongly state that my motivations are prejudicial against classes of foreign people. The only thing I am prejudice against is illegal entry and the coddling of hardened criminals who enter America with ill intentions –and who cost the very lives of American citizens. And NO, I do not think the majority of those here – even illegally – are hardened criminals, but I do believe that it is wise to have a system that weeds out those who are criminals before more families lose loved ones. That does not seem unreasonable.</p>
<p>I am not homophobic. I have had – and still have &#8212; a number of gay friends and employees. As difficult as you may find it to believe, I have not seen more homophobia and hatred than I have among numbers of Democrats I dealt with during my days in Chicago politics – that also applies to racism.</p>
<p>I am not misogynistic. I have always enjoyed the company of strong women. I have worked for them, and I have hired them. I do not feel at all threatened by their achievements or growing power. To see women as a less capable victim class … THAT is misogynistic.</p>
<p>I am not a hateful person. I have long honestly stated – and can still do so &#8212; that I have never hated another human being or group of humans in my life. I do not always respect what people do – not even my loved ones – but I never hate or wish ill on anyone. Making people accountable for their actions is not hate. It is justice.</p>
<p>In that regard, I am not a violent person – nor do I condone violence. It is not something to be condemned or embraced depending on one’s political views. I abhor political violence because it is not only wrong, but it is so unnecessary in a nation in which all our differences can be settled in the voting booths or through our legislative bodies.</p>
<p>I am not a blind partisan. I do not always agree with positions taken by Republicans – nor disagree with everything Democrats say and do. I have worked and voted for candidates of both parties.</p>
<p>I am a believer in honest and civil debate – and can disagree with friends, family and others without losing my temper or saying ugly things. Some of my closest friends hold political positions far distant from my own. In fact, I relish vigorous debate – often with humor &#8212; with those who are informed and intelligent – and those two things do not always go together. Whatever can be said about my commentaries, they are my honest opinions offered up to give important perspective on critical issues.</p>
<p>I am not a religious zealot. While I have my spiritual beliefs, I do not accept every belief of every religion. My opinions may have a moral foundation, but they are not always consistent with religious dogma.</p>
<p>I am not a member of the National Rifle Association because I do not own guns. However, I do respect the Second Amendment and the right of responsible gun ownership. Were me or my family every in a situation where terrorists came with guns, I would hope and pray that a lot of the good folks in the crowd would be armed.</p>
<p>Most of all, I am not a unique person – some sort of outlier among the body politic. I am not some sort of exceptional American. I am very typical of the vast majority of our fellow citizens. Yes, we may have differences of opinions about politics, sports, religion and what constitutes good food, but we are basically good people trying to get through life the best we can. We are generous with our wealth – limited as it may be for many. We are the best Good Samaritans in the world. We sacrifice for the benefit of others – too often with our own lives.</p>
<p>So, dear members of the Fourth Estate … WILL YOU PLEASE STOP DEMONIZING US WITH YOUR CALLOUS LIES, YOUR FALSE NARRATIVES AND YOU MALIGNANT OPINIONS? WILL YOU PLEASE GIVE UP YOUR ONE-SIDED SCREEDS IN FAVOR OF FAIR, HONEST AND OBJECTIVE REPORTING? REPORT ABOUT THE ISSUES INSTEAD OF TEARING DOWN EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE THAT DOES NOT COMPORT TO YOUR NARROW PHILOSOPHY AND DISTORTED VIEW OF REALITY. IF YOU WANT TO BE RESPECTED, THEN YOU DAMN WELL BETTER GIVE RESPECT … PERIOD.</p>
<p>In the meantime … Happy Thanksgiving!!!</p>
<p>So, there ‘tis.</p>