Editor’s note: This op-ed is by Bob Stannard, a former lawmaker and lobbyist for Citizens Action Network, an anti-Vermont Yankee group. He lives in Manchester.
When is a joke not all that funny? Now there’s a question that every comedian has asked at one point in their career. Perhaps many of you have asked the same question at some point. Humor’s a funny thing and sometimes it’s not funny at all.
In the January newsletter published by John McClaughry’s Ethan Allen Institute; an organization self-defined as a “think tank”, but in fact it’s more along the lines of a right wing conservative forum for its right wing conservative founder, we saw an example of non-humorous humor.
Under the heading of “Debate Report” in the publication known as News and Views, McClaughry describes a panel discussion that aired on local access TV as follows:
In a December 1 cable TV debate with EAI.’s Energy Education Project team (Meredith Angwin and Howard Shaffer), VPIRG energy spokesperson James Moore emphatically declared that the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant “hasn’t killed anyone YET.”. One unnamed viewer observed that “I also haven.’t killed anyone YET, but I am thinking of James Moore as a candidate.”
This newsletter was circulated around the State House when Mr. McClaughry was promoting a guest speaker who was speaking on the benefits of nuclear power. For the record, I represent a citizens group that is opposed to the continued operations of Entergy Louisiana ’s Vt. Yankee Nuclear Power Plant. His speaker, Gwyenth Cravens offered little to the debate on the continued operation of the plant other than to say that wind power creates more CO2 than nuclear power. Right.
What did make news in the State House was McClaughry’s newsletter. It wasn’t long before someone picked up one of the copies liberally distributed around the building and actually read it. When they came to this section it was immediately brought to Mr. Moore’s attention who was visibly shaken upon reading it.
I have known and worked with James Moore, a lobbyist, for three years now and would say that he’s very dedicated to his work. Whether you agree with him or not he’s good at what he does. Which leads to the point of agreement and disagreement.
Whether or not we agree with each other on issues of the day is there anyone who believes that we should be advocating for killing those with whom we disagree? Apparently that is the case with one of the people in attendance at Mr. McClaughry’s forum.
When called on this quote in his newsletter Mr. McClaughry allegedly stated to a reporter that it was a joke. I have heard and told many jokes over the course of my 59 years on this planet and I don’t ever recall thinking that having someone advocate for the killing of another person to be a joke. Stupid maybe, but it’s no joke.
The comments made by the unknown person in the crowd (and is it possible that Mr. McClaughry might know the person in question and opted not to give up his name for fear of reprisals?) were in poor taste. However, printing the comments in a newsletter distributed to the public shows very poor judgment. Declaring that the publishing of the quotes was a joke is nothing short of inexcusable. It’s important to remember who the person is who thinks this is a joke. Mr. McClaughry was a speech writer for former President, Ronald Reagan, in 1977; thirty-four years ago. Since that time he has served as a Vermont State Senator and has spent most of his professional career here in Vermont dealing with the press and putting himself out in the public eye. Although it is no secret that I disagree with virtually ever public position Mr. McClaughry has taken, I defend his right to offer his thoughts to the public.
The fact is that John McClaughry is a very smart, very media savvy individual. It is unbelievable to think that he wouldn’t know full well the impact these words would have, not only on the public at large, but in particular, Mr. Moore.
It was only two weeks ago that we witnessed a United States Congresswoman gunned downed in Tucson, because of her political beliefs. Comments like those published by Mr. McClaughry do nothing more than to serve to enflame emotions among his base. Wouldn’t it stand to reason that a man with his background had to have known the impact these words would have here in Vermont ?
The fact is that this is no joke and it’s not an incident that can be lightly brushed off. Those who support Mr. McClaughry are the people who should be speaking out right now. Remaining silent at a time like this does nothing more than to imply support for what he has done.
I have no idea what, if anything, should be done about Mr. McClaughry’s tasteless actions. Perhaps the media outlets around Vermont could simply stop publishing his frequently distributed opinion pieces. At the very least Mr. McClaughry should publicly apologize to Mr. Moore for the angst that he has created for Mr. Moore and his family. I don’t think that this is asking too much. Hopefully, going forward Mr. McClaughry may learn something from his actions like what is truly humorous and what is appalling. Let’s hope so.
