Newspaper headlines around the state last month said the Washington Supreme Court had given politicians the right to lie. That’s wrong.
The court in October ruled it was not the government’s role to decide who was correct in political debate.
The case arose when Democratic state Sen. Tim Sheldon of Mason County was running for re-election in 2002. One of his opponents accused him of voting against money for a facility important to his district, when he actually had voted for it.
After Sheldon handily won re-election, he filed a complaint with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) over the lie. The PDC sided with him, but on appeal, the court ruled a government agency had no right to decide who was lying and who was telling the truth.
The ruling can be justified by the fact Sheldon swept to victory, meaning voters can discern the truth in political debates.
Seattle Pacific’s un-Christian behavior
For many years, Cliff McCrath has been the face of soccer in Seattle. No story about a big local soccer event ever failed to mention his role.
McCrath started soccer at Seattle Pacific University 38 years ago by gathering a bunch of P.E. students.
Within a few years, he was producing winning teams and attracting the best teenage soccer talent in the area. His teams eventually won five NCAA Division II soccer championships and contended for many more.
Then this year, with three games left and another winning season, McCrath’s bosses fired him. They didn’t even give him a chance to finish one last season.
This is not what we would expect from a college that emphasizes Christian values. Certainly the action has nothing to do with treating people with kindness and tolerance.
A vote against early presidential contests
New Year’s confetti will barely be swept up as Iowans gather for their presidential caucuses Jan. 3. Five days later, New Hampshire voters will go to the polls for their primary election.
Forty years ago, New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary was in March. It’s been forced to shift forward as other states seek an early role in the nomination process.
This means New Hampshire and Iowa voters will see political ads as they watch TV after their Christmas dinners.
This is madness. The Republican and Democratic parties have been ineffective in trying to stop this trend. It may be time for Congress to step in with a rule that no presidential nominating convention may seat a delegate chosen before March 1.
Evan Smith is Enterprise Forum editor. Send comments to him at entopinion@heraldnet.com.
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