A column published Friday detailed some of the efforts undertaken over the past ten years by the St. Louis chapter of Jobs with Justice, a national movement that advocates for fair wages and other work-related issues.
The column noted that Lara Granich, the director the local chapter, is proud to call herself a community organizer. It also pointed out that some do not think kindly of that job description, notably fans of Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin.
When writing about a community organizer, it seemed prudent — if not fair — to take note of an opposing viewpoint.
In the further interest of fairness, here is reader Mike Lee’s (unedited) response:
Give Mr. Lee this: At least he had the guts to sign his real name. He was even so bold as to send the e-mail from his company account, J&J Sales Reps near Westport. I have a pretty thick skin and, as a journalist, welcome a healthy dialogue on job-related issues as much as anyone. But a thinly-veiled suggestion that I am a fascist by someone who knows nothing about me, my values or my family crosses the line. So, I called Mr. Lee and asked how he’d feel if I posted his observations.
His response:
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I don’t have to know you to know what you and Kurt Greenbaum are. Insecure, egomaniac “journalists”. You are both a disgrace to your profession. Read your privacy policy. If you don’t like a post, moderate it. Otherwise approve it and keep quiet.
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With what we’ve learned in the past week or so, this fits right in with how the Post thinks it should treat it’s contributors. Combine this with Greenbaum’s and Rose’s explanations, and it’s clear the Post has no intention of changing it’s behavior.
You simply can’t trust these guys or this paper to keep the online discussion separate from the real-world careers of their readers. If they don’t like what you post, they feel they are justified in “hitting back” at you where it hurts the most.
As long as you post things they like, you’ll get along just fine here.
The sad thing is, papers used to be considered one of the last bastions of free speech. They were one of the few places you could count on to stand up for unpopular speech.
Now, they are the first place you can count on to stamp out unpopular thoughts. After that, they’ll attempt to crush the people that posted those thoughts. I think I’ll stick to the rest of the internet(the liberated part) from now on.
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Don’t delete my constructive critques again, you little Napoleon. Take this as a, “teachable moment” for you. Just because you have a soap box doesn’t mean it’s your job as a journalist to attack and alienate your readers. You’re an aspiring Greenbaum, aren’t you?
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“I can assure you I would never publish the name of a reader or his or her company in a comment attached to this blog. Thanks for writing.
Steve Giegerich”
Admirable sentiments Mr. Giegerich. Unfortunately, until the St. Louis Post-Dispatch proves that it stands by them, by firing Greenbaum and issuing a public apology for his actions, you’ll understand why your readers may have some skepticism about them.
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Brown shirt?
I don’t get it at all… Since when are brown shirts insulting?
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Mr. G, I read your column also but was too busy to write to you and tell you how angry your sophomoric comments made me. Mr. Lee is right and I commend him for taking the time from his busy day to write to you. These types of comments are pervasive throughout the entire PD from the entertainment pages, the editorial pages, and now the business pages. I can just imagine all of you lefties sitting there on your high horses making fun of conservatives all day while saying people shouldn’t make fun of others.
You all are a bunch of hypocrites and everyone at the PD makes me want to puke and everything you all write. Fortunately for you all, you are the only game in town.
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I’m feelin’ kind of “brown shirty” myself, as I find myself unable to process Mike’s message while my inner Grammar Nazi is cringing and banging its metaphorical fascist head against a metaphorical desk.
Sheesh.
Unfortunately I see this level of Grammar-Q in a LOT of the bigwig entrepreneurs for whom I do freelance writing. Embarrassing writing skill in management keeps food on my table and G.I. Joe with Kung Fu grip under the Christmas tree.
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Uh… Bandolier?
You DO realize you just used ad hominem name calling (Shrub) in the same post in which you chastised high card for name calling?
Are you wearing asbestos underwear? I don’t want you to catch your chair on fire when you burst into flames of hypocrisy.
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The brown shirt label fits when the current Administration is trying to censor Fox News, Talk Radio and Tea Party Protestors because their views down “coincide” with Obama’s vision of his America.
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A few cards shy of a full house — what an either/or world you live in — Union member or Welfare Queen? (wow, you’ve now stepped into the way-back machine — a 90’s ouch). It’s funny how fear, loathing and anger breeds irrationality.
Oh and BTW: ACORN = red herring. $54 million in fed funding over 14 years? Boo hoo. Drop in the bucket compared to the billions stolen by Halliburton/KBR during the Shrub years. Direct your vitriol toward something actually worth getting worked up about. Criticizing a community organizer and petty name calling is a pathetic substitute.
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Sure John…
See ya, I have to take a shower after “visiting” the Post-Disgrace.
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highcard –
I’ve been to private school my whole life and wealth conservatives have taught me more about dangers of ignorance and greed than anything else.
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Sorry, Bandolier…you are obviously on the Owebama free money gravy train. Union member? Welfare queen? Which is it.
Owebama is ACORN…he is also out to silence dissent (Stalinism)…he is nationalizing banks, car companies and now, healthcare.
He is the worst kind of politician…a “man” with NO executive or even business experience…an idealogue with a socialist/communist agenda…a narcissist that cannot tolerate any dissent.
A one termer for sure.
BTW, public education should be fixed…not healthcare.
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I realize that the highcard in the deck likes to keep beating the ol’ community organizer = the devil drum, but please, can’t you guys spew out anything better than the same BECK-LIMBO-PALIN claptrap? It’s gotten really old and frankly, cliche. Come up with something more original, more unique. You obviously feel that wherever you were educated, it was a place far superior to a measly “public school” institution, so why don’t you dazzle us with some NEW right-wingy, fresh-as-a-daisy snark-speak. Seriously, the Stalin stuff and the Kool-aid comments are so July/August.
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The community organizer and chief tells us to get in line or else. Now they are wanting to know what new’s sites we visit. Pretty scary stuff.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/09/taking_liberties/entry5595506.shtml?tag=mncol;txt
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Wow, John…great reply.
Is that all your public school education could come up with?
Not surprised…enjoy the obama Stalin flavored kool-aid with Steve.
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So, highcard, how many aluminum foil hats DO you own?
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Yeah, right…you and your ilk elected this “community organizer” that has spent the past 9 months nationalizing the auto industry, banks and now healthcare…not to mention stealing $1 Trillion from my children and their children, just to pay off his union buddies and other assorted liberal interest groups through “Porkulus”.
Your denial of support for him smacks of Judas.
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…nope, just someone who thinks you and your ilk give true conservatives a bad name. If you want rational discourse, try using rationality instead of epithets and cute names.
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And the Owebama drones crawl out from under their rocks.
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…and the Glenn Beck genuflectors come out of the woodwork. LOL
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Quite obviously, Steve is a thin skinned Owebama drone that can’t handle it when someone with a difference of opinion dares question the only job our “Dear Leader” had prior to ACORN electing him as Community Organizer in Chief.
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Who is Steve Giegerich and why should I care?
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What a petty, vindictive reporter…you should be writing for a grade school newspaper…oh wait…you are.
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Scott – maybe I should have rephrased that to Nobel Prize winners, anyone of positive influence within the world we live in.
What I don’t gel with is people growing up with money, then being put into a position that makes a ton of money, while laying off people that cost 1/500 of their bonus.
It’s unfair, and life is unfair… but it’s our duty as human beings to make life as fair as we possibly can. This is low hanging fruit.
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John H,
Mr. Lee sent his observation to my Post-Dispatch e-mail account. I contacted him personally to inform him I was considering posting his comments on the STLJobWatch blog. He assented during our telephone conversation and followed up in the e-mail response published above. I can assure you I would never publish the name of a reader or his or her company in a comment attached to this blog. Thanks for writing.
Steve Giegerich
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Wow, I’ll make note never to post comments that a writer at the Post dislikes, otherwise he’ll out me and tell everyone where I work and how I make a living. Talk about using the bully pulpit – especially when it says “email will not be published” on the log-in. If I were Mr. Lee I’d be talking to a good attorney.
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____I think we can all relax and not worry about the future of Mr. Lee’s trade, as I’m certain he has an assistant who edits his business letters and proposals for syntax, spelling, capitalization, and content.
At least – - I hope so…
Otherwise there may be a lot of in-house snickering at J&J Sales Reps…
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Limbaugh is a hugh entertainer and radio personality.
When did Rush Limbaugh change his name to “hugh?” Or is there a radio personality named Hugh Limbaugh I haven’t heard of, yet.
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i believe i know ms. granich. she’s a great person who does good work. beyond that, this post, the uncut letter included, and the response—priceless. xie xie, gracias, danke, cheers!
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Mike Lee’s missive makes me weep for the future of the Industrial Wholesale Supply Sales Industry.
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After muddling through the disparaging remarks and a minefield of spelling errors, I’m not sure what to make of the opposing viewpoint. I’m not sure I would pass it on to any employees — not a great snapshot of the boss.
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This is probably the most petty thing that I have read in a while. If that is what the writer was going for, good for you I guess.
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John, if you think world leaders deserve that kind of money, I weep for the world you live in. The world leaders serve the people, and we are not getting value for our investment. Rush and other like him are small business men and women. They make their money based on advertisers who realize a nice return for having their products sold on the radio and TV shows they operate. This is called capitalism. I am not sure what your brand of economic theory represents, but it does not appear to be capitalistic. A better analogy for you would be Hollywood stars getting 25MM for a movie that bombs. In our society you should pay for results. Period. Rush et al get them. Our political leaders, on both sides of the aisle do not.
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What’s scary is, some people think that paying someone millions is reasonable. NOBODY, save influential world leaders, works hard enough to earn that kind of money.
What we’re battling here are generations of a being rich tradition. Granich grew up in the working class, most folks against looking out for the low man did not.
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