Editorial: Politics, thin skin, don’t mix

Friday, June 7, 2002 | 10:09 a.m.

Las Vegas Councilwoman Lynette Boggs McDonald charges that Councilman Larry Brown was motivated by politics when he criticized the inclusion of her name on a flier promoting a food festival in her ward. She says it was politics tinged with jealousy over her national stature as a congressional candidate. Another thought, not expressed by Boggs McDonald, is that Brown simply wanted to clarify the city's policy about mailings by political candidates. Whatever Brown's motivation, it couldn't have been so sinister as to warrant divine intervention.

Boggs McDonald reacted to the trifling fuss as if she were being persecuted on religious grounds, stating, "... God will be my rock, my sword, my shield." Referencing a passage of Scripture about the Apostle Paul, she said, "No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I send you right back into the fire in the name of Jesus Christ." She also likened politicians to crawfish in a barrel, climbing over each other to get ahead. Now, we think the crawfish analogy was fine -- not necessarily accurate, but more on the level of the issue at hand. Drawing so fervently upon Scripture over an ordinary little political fight, however, suggests that Boggs McDonald needs to adjust her sensitivity meter, particularly if she wants to serve in Washington.

The issue originated when a city-financed mass mailing arrived at the homes of Ward 2 residents in mid-May. Boggs McDonald's name appeared on the flier promoting the "Taste of Ward 2" event at a city park. Brown cited a city policy prohibiting the names or pictures of council members on such mailings after they have filed for an open public office. The city responded that the flier was mailed a week before Boggs McDonald formally filed on May 20 as a candidate for Nevada's 1st Congressional District. Boggs McDonald, however, has been an announced candidate for the office since last fall and has been lining up endorsements, giving talks, appearing in Washington, and receiving campaign donations. Brown said public officials in her position should use "common sense" in deference to the city's policy.

Boggs McDonald will hear much harsher criticism before her political career is over. It would be better for all if she kept her responses more down to Earth.

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