Idaho Anti-Hate Coalition Painting With Wide Brush
The fledgling Idaho Anti-Extremism Coalition is playing fast and loose with the term “hate group.” At its coming-out party recently, the coalition lumped white supremacists, militias and the Idaho Citizens Alliance together under that general heading. There’s no question that the neo-Nutsies and some militia leaders are racists (though rank-and-file militia types tend to be kooky rather than hateful). But Kelly Walton’s Idaho Citizens Alliance was blacklisted for its battle against gay rights, which are supported by the four “anti-extremism” member groups: Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment, Idaho Democratic Party, Idaho Women’s Alliance and Ada County Human Rights Task Force. Basically, the social liberals of the coalition are using a nasty label to marginalize their social-conservative foes. Joe McCarthy did something similar in the 1950s while outing “Commies.” I’m surprised the antiextremism extremists didn’t designate the Idaho Republican Party as a “hate group,” too.
Harrison couple: Let ‘em eat cake
Harrison Mayor Dean Christensen and his longtime housemate, Betsy Turner, probably are honest people. But they put themselves in an untenable position Tuesday when Turner ignored widespread criticism and supervised the Harrison municipal election. Turner, the town’s deputy city clerk, argued that she couldn’t rig election results if she tried. But that’s not the point. The setup looked bad. Can you imagine the city of Coeur d’Alene, for example, permitting Mayor Al Hassell’s wife to direct the vote-counting in his next race? No way. Maybe that’s why Christensen ended in what was, for him, a disappointing tie with Dave LePard. (The race will be decided tonight by a coin flip.) Cynical voters don’t like any appearance of evil.
Like pastor, like athletic director
A belated helping of “Sweet Potatoes” goes to Brian Cruess, football coach of the Falls Christian Academy Eagles. Recently, The Spokesman-Review reported that Cruess had to forfeit four of the five victories in the Eagles’ first winning season because a star back was a credit short of academic eligibility. So, how did the North Star League find out about it? Cruess told league officials and prepared himself to accept the consequences. How many coaches would have done that? I can think of one: the late David Hutchison, who pastored Falls Full Gospel Assembly of God and served as the school’s athletic director until his untimely death Sept. 30, 1994. Brian replaced Dave as A.D. His actions and honesty show he already is filling a big pair of shoes.
, DataTimes MEMO: D.F. Oliveria’s Hot Potatoes runs Tuesdays and Thursdays. You can comment on items by calling (800) 344-6718 or (208) 765-7125.