A predictable recitation of liberal talking points

To the editor:

So Review-Journal columnist John L. Smith decided to take Sunday off by regurgitating Democratic Party talking points in bashing Republican Sen. John Ensign ("Ensign's confession shows his conceit knows no boundaries"). All of his opinions had been repeated and regurgitated the previous five days countless times by television talking heads and the most elementary of political blogs. In lieu of original thought, he has cut and pasted the party line.

"Self-righteous, family values hypocrite"...check! " 'Promise Keepers' moral superiority platform"...check! "God, country, and family values"...check! And of course, Mr. Smith was also able to also include the blogosphere's most blatant disconnect: Sen. Ensign's criticism of former Sen. Larry Craig's public restroom sexual escapades (We all know public indecency and private affairs are parallels, right?).

We get it. John Ensign has failed as a human being. And though a Review-Journal poll, published the very same day, indicates 62 percent of Nevada voters would either re-elect or consider re-electing Sen. Ensign, it is fair to conclude that Sen. Ensign's inability to keep his promises to those closest to him should very well cast doubt on his abilities to keep promises to the public. It seems there could have been plenty original stories and opinions to come from this event.

While Mr. Smith gleefully belittles John Ensign for infidelity, I can't help but wonder if plagiarism of political talking points and getting paid to do such is not an equally egregious display of human failure?

I guess we could debate whether John Ensign was actually elected as a family values conservative or a fiscal conservative, as I seem to recall the latter to be the core of his election strategy. But in keeping with the politics of personal destruction, which John L. Smith so willingly practices, let us take moment to note that Mr. Smith stands for nothing. He is a talking head for the Democrat Party.

How hard can it be to castigate those, like Sen. Ensign, who failed to live up to certain morals and ethics? Simultaneously, Mr. Smith and his ilk lack the courage to state adherence to any such morals and ethics themselves. They hide under the guise of not wanting to force their morality on others. It does not get much more convenient than that. At least John Ensign had the courage to state a position that could be publicly scrutinized.

I could accept his artistry if it came from Mr. Smith's heart. But Mr. Smith just stole it from some common blog.

Where can I apply for such a gig?

Jeffrey R. Smith

LAS VEGAS