Coverage of Baugh Lacks Perspective
* The Times’ editorial on Scott Baugh (“Questions Linger After Baugh’s Victory,” Dec. 4) reflects the news coverage The Times gave Baugh during the campaign: irrelevant and tilted.
From what The Times says, one would think Republicans suggesting a Democrat run for the legislature is a horrible crime; nearly every article uses the word “felony.” Just to put all of this in perspective, Republicans suggesting a Democrat run was no more illegal than the Democrat power elite persuading all but one Democrat to drop out of the race.
While I wasn’t involved in this tactic, it’s not uncommon for either party. The error was that the right procedure was not followed in gathering the 40 signatures needed to put a candidate on the ballot. The Times can repeat the word “felony” all it wants, but no one in this state has ever been prosecuted for this violation of procedure.
When it comes to Republican maneuvers, The Times not only makes mountains out of molehills, it tries to criminalize mistakes made by novices and first-time candidates.
DANA ROHRABACHER
Member of Congress
Huntington Beach
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