Words from Webster

Whom shall I fear?

By Daniel Webster

Published in the Pioneer Press
Fort Jones, CA
530-468-5355
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Page EAST31, Column 1

As I worked on the article in this week's WEST edition of the Pioneer Press regarding former state senator and assemblyman wannabe Jim Nielsen, I've been strongly warned about my safety.

Yes, I was told four times by folks in the know in state politics that I need to be careful, because those I'm "going after" and "taking on" are "powerful" and will "come after" me and "hurt" me.

Pioneer Press reporter Barry Clausen heard over and over the same thing from those he interviewed.

In looking at the surface of those I'm going after, I would see the following cast of characters:

Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa, his chief of staff and republican northstate mafioso David Reade, former state Senator Jim Nielsen and the GOP mega-million dollar consulting firm Johnson/Clark, Inc.

Are these the ones I'm supposed to be shaking in fear over? Is taking them on putting my life or newspaper at risk?

First and foremost, I will not stand in fear of anyone.

Secondly, if one or two were to warn me that would not be a big issue. Why, though, do so many think these "good republican" folks would want to hurt me for using my first amendment right to hold politicians accountable?

Are they not as honorable as they want us to believe?

Or have they taken money from the worst of the worst and are now beholden to evil?
Am I to be in fear of the "good republicans" or those behind the veneer?

* * *

Let me set the record straight: the evidence sure does point to the notion that Jim Nielsen is a fraud.

If he genuinely cared about the northstate and our assembly district, he would have moved here, put his children in our schools and made this his home.

We have enough problems with representation in Sacramento , hence, the need for the State of Jefferson . It is wholly revolting to have the republican system forcing an outside candidate on us.

We must say emphatically "NO."

Doug LaMalfa knows fully well the sentiment of the northstate voters and if he wanted to push a candidate, he knows better than to import one from Woodland , with ties to water interests outside of our district.

Fortunately, you and I have the final say so in this matter and can tell the carpetbagger from Woodland to go home - and I believe we have established this week that Gerber is not his home.

I must say, carpetbagger, is too nice of a term for Nielsen and is rather inaccurate. It gives a connotation that he put his belongings in a carpet bag and moved to our area to get our votes. In reality, he doesn't have a carpet bag and he hasn't moved diddlysquat to the district to get our votes.

His carpetbag and belongings are still in Woodland , where he intends to remain in his gated community.

I don't believe for a moment that he has our district at heart.

- Daniel Webster, Publisher

The publisher grants permission for the following article to be reprinted or distributed.