In this file photo by Duane Rasmussen, Betty Henderson, wife of state Rep. Frank Henderson and Luke Malek huddle early in Luke's successful campaign for the Idaho House of Representatives. Judging from the letter to the Coeur d'Alene Press this morning, Mrs. Henderson remains a fan of the young legislator.

Kudos to Mike Patrick and his editorial staff in reference to the editorial in The Press on March 1. The question was: Is it that legislators who don’t take a hard line, fist-clenching, spittle-spewing stance on one emotional issue deserve zero support from their party? If you want to disagree with freshman Rep. Luke Malek on the health care exchange or any other issue, first, don’t demonize him or any of the other freshmen because they dared to think independently and offer a way for Idaho to move forward with an unsavory mandate. Difference over policy is a good thing, but anger is no substitute for debate/Betty Ann Henderson, Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene Press letter to the editor. More here.

Question: I find it refreshing that a Seasoned Citizen in the local GOP is standing up to the cranky party codgers who gave Luke a bad time for supporting a state-run health exchange. How about you?