Place an Ad | Subscribe | Advertise With Us

Vandal victim deserved better

Richard L. Anderson
Published: October 18, 2008

I would like to expand on the letter from the Chura family that appeared in these pages on Oct. 12. In their letter, they cite how a Republican “volunteer’s car was…badly damaged by ‘keying’” at
Republican headquarters on Prince William Parkway.

Let me expand.

The Republican volunteer in question was retired U.S. Air Force Col. Oliver P. (O.P.) Ditch, who served as a senior leader in our Air Force for 22 years and is now a dedicated community volunteer and
Republican stalwart in Prince William County.

O.P. served his nation with distinction for more than two decades, rose to the rank of full colonel and earned our nation’s highest honors with the Bronze Star Medal and the Legion of Merit. Col. Ditch’s
vehicle prominently displays a number of bumper stickers in support of Republican candidates for office.

Any reasonable person would rightly conclude that the vandalism to O.P.’s vehicle was not inflicted by a fellow Republican, but by someone of another political persuasion who strongly opposes divergent
views and wishes to deter the expression of free speech. O.P. — and our community and Commonwealth — deserve better than this.

There is cause for considerable concern, given reports from around the country about the destruction and stealing of Republican campaign signs, the fire-bombing of a McCain sign in Oregon with a
Molotov cocktail, vandalizing of a Republican county headquarters in South Carolina, widespread display of the raised middle digit and other threatening and hostile gestures by Democrats during a
Republican parade in Manhattan, attempted suppression of criticisms of Mr. Obama’s political views and dozens of similar instances around the country.

While the Republican Party has at times had similar problems, they have been limited in nature and pale in comparison to the widespread and prevalent behaviors in the Democrat Party — as reported by
the very media that is biased toward liberal views.

I urge our fellow citizens in the Democrat Party to respect the tenets of free speech and diversity of views.

That’s what Col. O.P. Ditch spent the better part of his life doing while wearing the uniform of our nation.

RICHARD L. ANDERSON

Woodbridge

Reader Reactions

Posted by ( phdee ) on October 21, 2008 at 7:56 am

Sam Spade here again.

I;ve read - from both parties - that political signs have been stolen all over. Could it be that several Republicans went out on a mission to steal Obama signs. Upomn return to the RNC shack, they were carrying the Obama signs inside when one person scrapped the signs’ “stick” against the car. Then, they made up the keying event blaming it on the Dems. After all, the signs were Democratic, weren’t they?

Report Inappropriate Comment

Posted by ( raywilliams ) on October 19, 2008 at 6:53 pm

ejben, the letter from Mr. Anderson was carefully written to incite anger, hatred and retribution by supporters of John McCain and other Republican candidates for office - (Sorry, I don’t know their names).

This is about as low as I’ve seen any political campaign stoop, and if my comments are lower than dirt, I feel satisfied I am still cleaner than Mr. Anderson and OP for allowing his name and character to be used for such slander.

If OP is half the gentleman you state he is, and I agree from my dealings with him years ago in business matters he is a gentleman, OP will apologize and ask the News & Messenger to retract the letter.

Report Inappropriate Comment

Posted by ( phdee ) on October 19, 2008 at 6:42 pm

ejben: all pigs have to wallow in the mud. The pig I am presently aware is one who claims to wear lipstick: Palin. Her fellow pigs, the Repubs, are always rooting around trying to find something on someone. Hioefully these little pigs will soon be going to market.

Report Inappropriate Comment

Posted by ( phdee ) on October 19, 2008 at 4:12 pm

I have been thining a la Sam Spade.

Concerning the alleged keying of the car:

(1) no one says whether the vandalism occurred in daytime or at night;
(2) perhaps the owner needed a paint touchup or paint job, wanted his insurance to pay for it, and made up the entire thing;
(3) perhaps there never was any vandalism.
(4) perhaps the vandalism was done at his residence.

Quite frankly, with allegations by both Dems and repubs of political signs being removed, the LTE is carefully tailored as a big tale - for political purposes. It’s tailored for “patriotoic” reasons and pity - harm done to someone wholesome and pure. Heck, the finest people do the same things as the ordinary man. Read the papers.

Report Inappropriate Comment

Posted by ( RonCharest ) on October 19, 2008 at 2:57 pm

Ejben,

Considering that Sen McCain and Gov Palin are now whipping up their supporters into such rages of hate as to scream death threats again a sitting Senator/Presidential candidate, it’s really hard for me to get excited about one local person claiming their car was vandalized as a result of putting a McCain bumper sticker on it. Especially when the owner of the car didn’t see the incident occur, doesn’t know who did it, and so really has no idea why it occurred.

On the other hand; During the 2004 campaign, I was the target of a smear campaign within my workplace as a direct result of voicing public support of Sen Kerry, and putting a “Howard Dean for America” bumper sticker on my car. The smear campaign cost me a promotion and put me in line for being laid off had I chosen to remain at that job.

I am also an honorable man, who has worked hard for those candidates that I believe in. I mind my own business and would never think of being nasty to anyone. I don’t condone violence, vandalism, or intimidation to suppress free speech. But, I also lack a whole lot of sympathy for any Conservative who experiences even a small fraction of the increasing levels of bilge that has been directed at Liberals, including myself, for most of the past 30 years.

If in fact this was the reason for Mr. Ditch’s vandalism.

Report Inappropriate Comment

Posted by ( phdee ) on October 19, 2008 at 2:32 pm

ejben: come now. ANYONE will do anything. You must never read the papers. This includes “nice families” just as much as ghetto kids. I agree vandalism is not nice to do.

Ray, I had forgotten about that shack. I always wondered what it was. I thought it was a refurbished outhouse or “quick sex” place. I’m sure those inside at the time of the alleged keying eren’t discussing issues however.

Report Inappropriate Comment

Posted by ( ejben ) on October 19, 2008 at 1:55 pm

I can not believe what I see in these replys to a letter written by Mr. Anderson.
Ray Williams you are really hitting low and under the dirt,to think OP would do this himself.OP has always been an honorable man and has worked hard for those candidates that he believes in. He minds his own business and would never think of being nasty to anyone.
Course after all of this ,it is apparent who is down with the pigs,swolling in the mud and it’s not the Republicans.

Report Inappropriate Comment

Posted by ( raywilliams ) on October 19, 2008 at 10:41 am

“Whether this was politically motivated or not, there’s no excuse for vandalism.“

Self inflicted or otherwise ....

Report Inappropriate Comment

Posted by ( raywilliams ) on October 19, 2008 at 10:39 am

It should also be noted the Republican “Headquarters” is a run-down shack, about ready to be demolished, with parking for about 8 cars tops.

How on earth could someone pull into that parking lot, key a car and get away without being seen?

No, more likley O.P. did the nasty deed himself to “create some sensational news” and further serve the Republican agenda with a series of carefully scripted letters to editor.

Republicans have no shame. Thank you Karl Rove for your contributions to American politics.

Report Inappropriate Comment

Posted by ( QuestionAuthority ) on October 19, 2008 at 10:34 am

Whether this was politically motivated or not, there’s no excuse for vandalism.

Report Inappropriate Comment