March Mensch of the Week and Putz of the Week

To paraphrase Woody Allen, the month of March goes in like a lion, and out like a lion, but sometimes not the same lion. Much can be said of our Putz of the Week, the Hunterdon County Democrat newspaper in my home county of Hunterdon.

Many a joke has been made about the misnamed paper because of just how Republican they actually are. However, I find no fault in their editorial policy per se; they certainly may endorse conservatives or Republicans to their hearts content.

It's their policy of which “Letters to the Editor” they print and which they do not I find troubling. Their incessant need to print the racist rants of [current or former] Republican County Committeeman Carl Kettler is of concern.

Every once in a while, Mr. Kettler feels compelled to vent in his racist letters to the editors of the Democrat about Jews who “control” the state’s pension system [as he did during the Whitman administration] or [in his more recent rants] about the Hispanic men who “intimidate” and “loiter” on Main Street in Flemington.

Why does the Hunterdon County Democrat feel compelled to give Mr. Kettler a forum for his racist rants?

A strong argument can be made that a newspaper certainly does have the right to choose which letters to print and which to not. As a strong supporter of the First Amendment, I support the newspaper’s right to print letters to the editor and Mr. Kettler’s right to draft them.

However, it should trouble readers that the Democrat makes such a choice over and over again. They continually give Mr. Kettler a forum, and never choose to challenge his assertions in their own editorials.

So, I assert my First Amendment rights and assert that the Hunterdon County Democrat editorial board is our Putz of the Week for choosing to give the racist letters of Mr. Kettler a forum over and over again.

March Mench-ness

In SICKO, Michael Moore made note that many European nations provide PAID FAMILY LEAVE for their citizens so that they may care for a sick relative without the fear of being placed in a tough financial situation. Trenton will vote on a bill for Paid Family Leave on Monday.

From PoliticsNJ.com: “The measure would extend state liability insurance to employees for up to six weeks, enabling workers to care for themselves, a newborn or a sick relative. Funding would come from the workers contributing what adds up to roughly $33 each per year out of their paychecks.”

The bill was released from the Assembly Labor Committee Friday, and the Senate is scheduled to convene for a vote on Monday. And for those Senators, like Loretta Weinberg, who truly support family values, a big March Mensch of the Week from NJPoliticsUnusual.com.

"I think it will be a squeaker," admitted Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), a co-sponsor of the bill. "I would hope each of these people considers what it’s like with a brand new baby or someone with an illness."

Squeak a little louder to your state Senator Monday and seek support for Paid Family Leave in New Jersey. Tell Your Senator To "Vote YES On S-786"!