Newton N. Minow cynically seized the tragic shooting of Chicago Police Officer Michael Ceriale as an opportunity to criticize Rep. Glenn Poshard (Commentary, Aug. 20). Shame on Mr. Minow to capitalize on the murder of a young police officer to further his own political agenda.
The truth is that the only purpose of Mr. Minow’s commentary was to attack Poshard. This is because Mr. Minow reserves his deepest loathing for members of his own party who fail to follow his own ultraliberal views in lock step.
Mr. Minow suggests that Poshard’s vote in Washington on the Brady Bill was somehow responsible for the shooting of Officer Ceriale. Perhaps Mr. Minow should look to the closer causes of Officer Ceriale’s murder: the personal responsibility of the person who pulled the trigger compounded by the immediate failure of the juvenile justice system. Just days before the shooting, the alleged murderer was arrested and could have been held for violation of his probation. Instead the alleged murderer was released back on the streets. Further, Mr. Minow conveniently failed to note that Chicago’s restrictions on gun ownership are far more severe than any imposed by the Brady Bill, but sadly, those restrictions did not prevent Officer Ceriale’s murder.
Mr. Minow stated: “. . .Illinois is a big, diverse state and . . .the governor’s job is to represent all of the state’s people. . .” What irony: Newton Minow abhors divergent views in his own party but feels confident in preaching the importance to represent divergent people.
Many Democrats, including myself, will vote for Glenn Poshard even if we disagree with him on some issues, because Glenn Poshard stands for the traditional values of the Democratic Party.
All Chicagoans mourn the death of Officer Ceriale, who bravely died protecting our streets.
