The West Central Tribune's headline article, "Johnson comes under fire from marriage group," is an example of slanted journalism, an attempt to divert the public's attention from the real issue to some contrived or lesser issue.
The real issue is Senator/Pastor/Chaplain Dean Johnson's behavior. Johnson stated to the New London/Spicer Ministerial that he had conversations with Minnesota Supreme Court justices assuring him that they would not hear a challenge to the Minnesota marriage statute, conversations Johnson now denies having. Judges are ethically bound to make impartial decisions and not pre-judge cases.
Any way you look at it, he has impugned the integrity of the Minnesota Supreme Court. By making these statements Johnson, as majority leader of the Senate, has acted unethically. As constituents of his district, we too should be calling for his resignation.
The article attempts to make the tape recording of the meeting the issue. Monthly ministerial meetings are generally public meetings, sometimes even attended by or reported on by media. This is not the issue. The article tries to make Johnson look like the victim when it is his own behavior that has caused this. Johnson should be disappointed with himself rather than his colleagues in ministry.
When a group of constituents went by bus to St. Paul in 2004 to discuss the marriage issue with Johnson, his staff told us that he would visit with us on the condition that no audio or video devices would be used. Why?
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Shouldn't a senator, pastor and chaplain be accountable for the words he speaks publicly?
When Johnson says, "Two things you have is your integrity and your word," I wonder where that leaves him with the New London/Spicer Ministerial and the rest of us who have been misled by his statements? It's time that Johnson is held accountable for his behavior.
I guess the senator doesn't need a public relations person putting a slant on issues when he has the West Central Tribune doing it for him.
Wayne Cook
Willmar
