As our Congressman, Brian Baird was a decent and honest public servant. However, after reading his disingenuous, partisan attacks in the June 2 Columbian story “Baird weighs in on local politics,” I was disappointed to see that’s changed.
How soon Baird forgets that after being confronted and then calling protestors Nazi “brown shirts,” he never held another town hall during his year and a half left in office. He should have been honest and just admitted that he, too, abandoned town halls when they became more circus than constructive public forum. But he didn’t. The Columbian should have called him on it.
Instead of acknowledging that Republicans such as his successor, U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas, helped pass his STOCK Act, he launched partisan attacks on her. He also attacked former state Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, rather than just thank him for 17 years of rock-solid leadership and public service.
I’m sorry to see that Baird has abandoned his record of independence and honesty. If this paper continues to cover his words and actions, I hope it intends to keep him more accountable for what he says.
