Tuesday, April 30, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.
CONGRESSMAN JOHN ENSIGN, who happens to be a very articulate and intelligent young man, is getting some bad advice from somewhere.
This business of publicly aligning himself with no-longer-popular House Speaker Newt Gingrich reminds me of what almost happened to a one-time Nevada U.S. senator, George "Molly" Malone.
It was 1952. I was in a publicity and advertising business with Art Force, considered by many old-timers as the class of the public relations business. Our office was maintained at the El Cortez hotel, which was the headquarters for Sen. Malone's election campaign.
Although I didn't agree with much of the senator's political philosophy, he was a longtime family friend, so I felt it my duty to advise him if and when he asked for my opinion.
One day he came to the office and declared that Sen. Joe McCarthy had offered to come out and speak on his behalf.
My immediate reaction was, "why on earth would you let him do that?"
At the time, McCarthy was running roughshod over many people, establishing a regime of fear and falsehood that was to become known as McCarthyism. His main purpose in life seemed to be accusing everyone of being a communist.
A young publisher, Hank Greenspun, was one of the few in the nation with enough courage to question McCarthy's tactics and character. His columns ridiculing and exposing the senator were being read around the country, and the Las Vegas SUN became known as the nation's crusading newspaper.
At the same time, Greenspun was touting a senatorial candidate of his own -- a young Tom Mechling.
Some of us tried to convince Sen. Malone that McCarthy could do him more harm than good, but our arguments were in vain and the notorious and infamous senator came to Nevada.
Sen. Malone did win the election over Tom Mechling but by a frighteningly small margin. The next time he ran he was soundly defeated by Sen. Howard Cannon.
Newt Gingrich is certainly no McCarthy, but he does carry baggage and Ensign might do well to look the other way and say, "Newt who?"
* How times change.
Remember when Bob Stupak was persona non grata in social and political circles.
Today, he's the toast of the town. Even those who shunned and vilified him in the past are now climbing on his bandwagon and hailing his second coming.
There's no question the man is a marvel of daring and determination and I wish him the best in all of his endeavors.
Wonder if that old Vegas World stock he distributed so generously will ever become a collector's item?
* Barney Rawlings can do a lot more than sing the "Star Spangled Banner" better than almost anybody.
On May 8, retired Air Force Col. G. Barney Rawlings will be awarded the Harry S. Truman Silver Veteran's Medal given annually by the Truman Award Foundation. He will be honored for his war service including 282 hours of combat time in the air battles over Europe and northern France as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot. The award also credits his many hours of community service after retirement and his service as commanding general of the Nevada National Guard Reserve in 1982.
Las Vegans remember Rawlings as a singing emcee on the Strip.
He will be in good company, as the other honoree is Bill Mauldin, whose wartime "Willie and Joe" cartoons won him a Pulitzer.
The award ceremony will take place in Kansas City on the Truman's birthday.
* Move over buffets -- make room for the Fiesta.
The recently opened Fiesta buffet at the hotel of that name on Rancho Drive is the best of the best.
Food aficionados will find everything from good ol' down-home mashed potatoes and gravy, to sophisticated Cajun, Mexican, Italian, Greek, Chinese and you-name-it choices. A fabulous coffee bar offers everything from espresso and cappuccino to regular brews.
A trip around the dessert bar makes you believe you've died and gone to heaven.
And the prices are right.
* Evelyn Bressickello visited the ACS Security exhibit at the Home Show held at Cashman Field and as a result won some peace of mind -- a home security system including closed circuit television from ACS Security and Ironco Inc.
That's one sure way of taking a bite out of crime.
* Reader Don Pesch claims a lot of good arguments are spoiled by some fool who knows what he's talking about.
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