Huckleberries Online

Hoffman: Vile Posts Still Free Speech

Posted by DFO

March 6, 2009 9:59 a.m. • 13 comments

I’m somewhat ambivalent about reading the remarks of anonymous commentators who are passionate and unified behind their disdain for me. I’m not excited about it, but I’m also never emotionally distressed by it either. It would be nice if my secretive friends would put more thought into their arguments, and be more constructive rather than lash out with much bitterness but little substance. The other day, I asked a left-of-center blogger to sit with me and talk politics over tea. This blogger, from the Unequivocal Notion, is no fan of mine; he tends to be critical, but not malicious in his assessment of me. He graciously accepted my invitation. I found him intelligent, well-spoken and kind, and we began to understand each other’s positions a little better. We resolved to spend more time emphasizing the things on which we can agree, such as my foundation’s transparency-in-government project/Wayne Hoffman, Idaho Freedom Foundation. More here.

Question: Hoffman, of course, is the controversial former spokesman for Bill Sali. He was opposed to the now-dead attempt by Rep. Steve Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, to rein in online comments. Are you surpised by Hoffman’s stand on this issue?

13 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Arch_Druid on March 06 at 10:10 a.m.
No, when he isn’t representing Bill Sali, he seems to do just fine on his own. My disdain isn’t with Hoffman anyway, it is with Sali. And I am of the opinion there is nothing wrong with transparency in gvt if in fact transparency becomes a fact and not a political tool.
Sisyphus on March 06 at 10:16 a.m.
Am I surprised that Wayne Hoffman is making attempts to rehabilitate his reputation by trying to appear as if he has things in common with the critics of a ludicrous proposal that died an ignoble death? Not at all.

Did you know that the only two opponents that spoke against Rep. Sayler’s child care bill was Bryan Fischer and Mrs. Wayne Hoffman, who dutifully filled in for her husband who had to be away?
Liz on March 06 at 10:59 a.m.
I applaud you Dave, for being mature enough to not do what so many bloggers do; that being deleting anyone who doesn’t tout their party line. This can go for just about any ideology.
As long as people are not crossing certain lines or outright threatening people; free speech is to be supported, encouraged and not surpressed…
WayneH on March 06 at 1:04 p.m.
1. My commentary on the Internet legislation was written BEFORE the bill was killed, not after. Funny, plenty of others were allowed to write about this legislation but I’m not? What’s up with that?
2. My wife is a citizen of this state and has every right to testify in a committee if she so chooses. She is a former daycare owner. She thought she had something to contribute to the discussion. Just because she holds a view that is not the same as yours is no reason to start taking shots at her. By the way, her name is Kimberly, not Mrs. Wayne Hoffman.
3. I’m not sure what I can do to make you happy, Sisyphus. I’ve reached out. I’ve highlighted areas in which we agree as well as those areas where we disagree. What more can I do?
4. I have a lot of friends who consider themselves liberal. And I’ve now had two very nice conversations with two bloggers who don’t much care for my politics. I’m trying to reach out and have civil conversation, and you just want to keep slapping me down. OK. Whatever. I’ve tried. And I’m going to keep on trying. Why can’t you respect that?
DFO on March 06 at 1:11 p.m.
Wayne; I appreciate the fact that you dropped in here. You are welcome to continue to do so. You’ll find a new civility taking hold at Huckleberries Online.
Joker on March 06 at 1:19 p.m.
Welcome Wayne,

Good to have another voice in the chorus.
Arch_Druid on March 06 at 7:51 p.m.
Hopefully, Mr. Hoffman did take note that I hadn’t slapped him down. I practically didn’t know about any of this until I checked in earlier today. And yeah, Mr. Hoffman, keep reaching out, that makes you a better conservative.

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About this blog

D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.