Strassler's Obfuscation and Silent Scream

As much as I admire this Deaf guy's site by Barry Strassler, where he sends out his free weekly e-newsletter relating to anything basically about deaf-related issues or news, he needs to learn to get a few facts straight. In his recent November 7, 2004 newsletter he has found a way to whine about the losing side of politics while attempting to befog his position about his feelings toward the Republican party or even his allegiance to the other side. He reports,

We, the deaf are not immune. We see Deaf Democrats and Deaf Republicans fighting each other - even to the point of having one of their web sites being hijacked! So, as far as hating a political party is concerned, we, the deaf may be no different from the hearing.

The obfuscation is the use of the word "hijacked" and believing one deaf organization actually "hijacked" another deaf organization's "website". This has never occurred. Barry need to get over the fact that nothing was hijacked from anybody's deaf political organization's website. None. Nada. Zilcho! That's the kind of smearing you have to listen to, unfortunately. There are no deaf "democratic groups" other than the "Deaf and Hard of Hearing Americans for Kerry/Edwards Steering Committee." Oh, yeah. Kerry lost the race.

But in the obfuscatation smear tactic the newsletter laments again by reporting in the "News of the Week" column:

"What does the Bush win mean for us, the deaf?" And one deaf Democrat replied,

"I just feel so awful now. This is really, really bad news for ADA and other civil rights advocates."

I feel awful, too. Knowing that many people do not have a clue on what President George W. Bush did for these people in terms of civil rights and the ADA. How many people realize that the National Council on Disabilities recently praised the Bush Administration for their support of the ADA on February 23, 2004?

“The National Council on Disability (NCD) commends the Administration's on-going support for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Millions of Americans with disabilities achieve increased productivity and independence as a result of the access provided by ADA enforcement. In response to recent cases involving the ADA, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has been consistent in actively defending the constitutionality of the ADA and the civil rights of individuals with disabilities”

Hey, Barry, how about contacting these so-called hating Deaf Democrat and Republican groups and get your story right for a change? This is what we call "Responsible Journalism." Doing a journalistic stealth campaign does not do anybody good. That's why John Kerry lost.

Hmmm....I take that back. Mass emailing newsletters isn't really journalism. Still, Barry ought to get the story right for a change.

The Deaf Republicans organization strives to report factual information, provide the proper links and let you decide. You have the power of the internet and Google search engine to cross check these reportings. You have that power! In fact, it's your duty to make sure you are well informed so that you can make an informed decision when it comes to voting.

The Deaf Republicans give credit where it's due, even to the Democrats by which they deserve lots of credits when it comes to ADA and civil rights. We expect the same from them. But without knowing the history of Republicans you would be surprise to learn that the Republicans have consistently been in greater support for civil rights for all people of all races, including the disABLED Americans. Historians report that while Democrats were busy passing laws to hurt blacks, Republicans devoted their time to passing laws to help blacks, for example. Republicans were primarily responsible for the following Civil Rights legislation.

So, what do we have here? Are the Democrats trying to be revisionists now? Eh, Barry?

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BTW folks, I get his newsletter in my email box and I read it from time to time. Interesting and informative but it has a political democratic slant against the Republicans. Looks like Barry showed his true colors in this newsletter of his on which sides of the fence he's on. Also, from what I have read over the past year or so the newsletter has a bit of a slant against the hearing population as well, in my opinion. Since there are hardly any positive mentions regarding cochlear implants and non-signers who are deaf or hard of hearing. It's a Deaf newsletter, not a deaf newsletter for the most part.

So, go read the archives of Deaf Digest courtesy of the famous Wayback Machine and really, um, well, learn about deaf culture and the community. I guess.