Letters: Hoffa's call to polls, not to arms

Editor's note: Monday's letters about a Labor Day vow by Teamsters general president James Hoffa to "take . . . out" his political opponents continue to generate a lot of interest from Newsday readers. Hoffa stood by his comments during a radio interview on Friday with KIRO-FM in Seattle. Here's an excerpt:

"I'm talking about the tea party Republicans who are trying to take away everything that labor has fought for, who frustrate the president when we try and put America back to work, who are out there trying to pass right-to-work, and who are trying to take away collective bargaining for people in Wisconsin and Ohio. That's who I'm talking about. And you know what? Since I made that comment, my phones have been ringing off the hook. Everybody is saying, keep it up, we need more of that. A lot of these politicians don't have the courage to say what I said. [Tea party Republicans] think they can roll over everybody with their money and their crazy organizations. The working people of this country are not going to stand for that. What we have is the numbers; we've got the votes."
 

The letter writers who complained about James Hoffa's "angry words" might have a change of heart if they heard Hoffa's words in their full context ["Hoffa's angry words," Sept. 12]. Unfortunately, some media such as Fox News, did not always publish the full content of Hoffa's words and misled their viewers. I believe that was intentional, considering that Fox has a proven track record of slanting the news.

If the readers had taken the time to listen to the entire speech, they would have known that Hoffa's words were used solely in the context of voting, and there is no doubt about that. Referring to November elections, he said, "President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march. President Obama, we want one thing: Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs . . . "

Immediately before the words the letter writers found so distasteful, Hoffa said: "Everybody here has got a vote! If we go back, and we keep the eye on the prize. Let's take these son-of-a-bitches out." He clearly meant we have to take them out of office, referring to those who have consistently voted against middle-class values.

I find it troublesome that Newsday published those letters without an opposing view or, worse yet, without noting the full context of Hoffa's speech. That made it seem to the readers of the letters page that the speech was a call to arms such as those made by Sarah Palin and tea party members who have spoken about "Second Amendment solutions" and utilized target images for opposing party candidates -- very clear and unequivocal calls for violence, as opposed to calls for voters to go to the polls.

In its true context, however, there was nothing violent said or intended. Shame on the media that have misled so many Americans and created a controversy where none should exist.

Joanne Fanizza, Massapequa Park
 

The letters in response to James Hoffa's rhetoric hit the nail on the head. Whenever some deranged person commits a horrific crime, there is speculation and whispers that they were motivated by talk radio or the "radical right." As stated, with the shootings in Arizona, this was totally incorrect.

However, when Democratic and liberal officials engage in hate speech and veiled threats, there is nary a word or condemnation from media sources. Why such a blatant double standard?

How can we address the multitude of problems this country faces when we can't even have civil dialogue over differences?

Michael Tartaglia, Franklin Square
 

The video that makes James Hoffa look so bad was carefully edited for that result. One very important line was left out. He said, "Everybody here has got a vote."

Obviously Hoffa is referring to using the voting booth to get destructive tea party candidates out of office.

John Hermanson, Huntington