Republican Noise Machine in the Press

The state's two largest newspapers' Editorial pages have been used quite effectively by area Republicans to milk Nebraska Democratic Party Executive Director Barry Rubin's "Tio Tomas" comment for every bit of self-serving self-righteousness it is worth.

What's pathetic, though, is that it's been largely the same "offended" Republicans writing in both newspapers despite the World-Herald and Journal-Star's long-standing policies of not running the same letters. Obviously, they're willing to put that policy aside when it comes to overblown political potshots that the rest of the population sees right through for the exaggerated nonsense that it is.

Here are your examples:
Omaha World-Herald

Nebraska Democratic Party Executive Director Barry Rubin crossed the line this week when he called departing Douglas County Election Commissioner Carlos Castillo Tio Tomas, an Uncle Tom, on the Democrats' official Web site. Castillo is a Republican.

This deliberate comment went far beyond the typical back-and-forth rhetoric that goes on between the two political parties. Rubin should be admonished for this type of inexcusable behavior.

At a time in which national Democratic leaders are distancing themselves from the negative rhetoric of Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean, it is unfortunate that Rubin has taken a page from the Dean handbook.

As long as Dean keeps giving money to Nebraska Democrats, we no doubt can expect more of the same from the state party's executive director.

I urge the leadership of the Nebraska Democratic Party to show Rubin another line to cross - the state line. The use of a racial slur is not acceptable to the people of Nebraska. Shame on Rubin!

Wayne Bena, Omaha

Lincoln Journal-Star

Racism is never acceptable. Nebraska Democratc Party Executive Director Barry Rubin crossed a sacred line when he decided to use a racial slur when writing about a Republican official on the Democrats' official Web site. This deliberate comment went far beyond the typical back-and-forth rhetoric that goes on between the two political parties.

Rubin should be admonished for this type of inexcusable behavior. In a time in which national Democratic leaders are distancing themselves from the negative rhetoric of Howard Dean, it is unfortunate that Rubin has to take a page from the Dean handbook. And as long as Dean keeps giving money to Nebraska Democrats, we can no doubt expect more of the same from the state party's executive director.

I urge the leadership of the Nebraska Democratic Party to show Rubin another line to cross — the state line. Use of a racial slur is not acceptable to the people of Nebraska.

Shame on you, Barry Rubin!

Wayne Bena, Omaha

Omaha World-Herald

How dare Nebraska Democratic Party Executive Director Barry Rubin question the cultural integrity of Carlos Castillo. In a message posted on the Nebraska Democratic Party's Web site last week, Rubin called Castillo Tio Tomas, or Uncle Tom. Castillo, a Republican, has resigned as Douglas County election commissioner effective June 23.

As a Hispanic, I long for the day when the Democratic Party will stop seeing me as a hyphenated American - a political token to be pulled out and exploited every election cycle and then promptly stuffed back inside its pocket once the votes are tallied.
The modern-day Democratic Party is in sad, sad shape if it has to resort to this type of low-brow and racist political rhetoric.

It seems to me that if Mr. Rubin were truly a man of integrity and wanted to represent his party with dignity, he would follow the hopeful and color-blind words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who etched into our memories his dream of a day in America when children "will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Donald A. Aguirre, Roca, Neb.

Lincoln Journal-Star

How dare Nebraska Democratic Party Executive Director Barry Rubin, a shallow and self-righteous political elitist, question the cultural integrity of Carlos Castillo. It is obvious that Rubin is of the racist and dangerous mindset which believes all minorities should be chained like slaves on the political plantation of the Democratic Party so white liberal masters can watch over us and keep us in check.

As a Hispanic I long for the day when the Democratic Party will stop seeing me as a hyphenated American, a political token to be pulled out and exploited every election cycle and then promptly stuffed back inside their greasy pocket once the votes are tallied. The modern-day Democratic Party is in sad, sad shape if they have to resort to this type of low-brow and racist political rhetoric.

It seems to me that if Rubin were truly a man of integrity and wanted to represent his party with dignity, he would follow the hopeful and colorblind words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who etched into our memories the dream of a day in America when our children would "not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

Don Aguirre, Roca

Good work boys. To be honest, though, I'm kind of disappointed. I was really hoping the Nebraska Republican Pary could find more ways to spin this one, not to mention more people to fake indignation. With that huge registration advantage, I would expect a wider variety of people to take leave of their senses on behalf of the party line. Isn't there anyone else willing to make mountains out of mole hills with these two?