Hatcher was on wrong track with comments

Steve Hatcher must have recently received a gift from Karl Rove — his poison pen.

In my Nov. 4 letter I wrote, "I'm really tired of right wing-nuts calling those of us who question our leaders unpatriotic." Steve responded on Nov. 11 with, "Does Bob Wynhausen have a case against "right wing-nuts" that would take our leaders to task as unpatriotic?"

Note the difference, I chide those on the right for calling dissenters unpatriotic. Seemed pretty clear to me at the time. Steve turns it on its head to suggest that I am calling our leaders unpatriotic.

This is classic Rove. Take what you say, give it a good twist and feed it back as truth.

Steve, when I call someone unpatriotic it will be clear enough even for you to understand.

Steve also mentioned a poll in which 20 percent of Democrats were found to believe that the world would be better off if the U.S. lost the war in Iraq. No one but Fox News viewers has ever heard that poll data. Steve didn't even cite its source. I suspect the poll is as phony as Fox News, better known as a shill for the Republican Party than a reliable news organ.

A more meaningful poll about what's happening in this country is the Right Track/Wrong Track poll that recently showed 72 percent of Americans believe we are on the wrong track. Apparently Steve believes that the only thing on the wrong track is Wynhausen.

BOB WYNHAUSEN

Sandpoint