When I wrote for the newspaper, Jon was the right to my left. I did the liberal column and his column ran next to mine as the conservative. I had to put up with him every year at the office Christmas party but other than that, we didn't communicate much. Like other Republicans, Jon was a bully - constantly picking on those with less power, money, and influence than he had. I felt it was my job to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Jon didn't. I remember the year he followed me around at the Christmas party asking me if I'd like to have a cigar with Bill Clinton, like fifty times.
I didn't gloat when Jon was indicted and plead guilty. An 11 year old girl had been hurt. That's nothing to gloat over. Instead, it pained me. The only comment I made in my column was a p.s. at the end of one column that said there's a great and loving God who will forgive Jon if Jon asks.
I think what bothered me most was the number of Republicans in the area who told me that they knew Jon was a drunk and that he was "kinky" - not in the run for Governor way, but in the 11 year old girl way. They would wink and say, "We all knew it." And they would smile. Dammit. That is unacceptable. They knew the man was in trouble but did nothing to help him because he carried their message on the radio and in the newspaper. They used him. They knew he was burning out and they did nothing. Once Jon plead guilty he was a leper to them.
They were willing to sacrifice a little girl and a man's life in exchange for hate talk.
I have often said that local Republicans here in Tom DeLay's district made me a straight-ticket Democrat. It's true. Here's one of Jon's online column from back then that I found in a random search. I'm sure there's more. But, a reminder of the kind of people who support Tom DeLay.
http://www.fortbendstar.com/Archives/2002_4q/101602/matthews101602.htmMy friend Elizabeth says that the most evil people hide behind the far rightwing message. In their hearts, they know how perverted they are, so they assume that everyone else is - especially those who are tolerant.