OPINION
4 Piqua Daily Call
Contact us For information regarding the Opinion page, contact Editor Susan Hartley at 773-2721, or send an email to sharley@civitasmedia.com
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2013
www.dailycall.com
Politics
IRS official Lerner: ‘I did nothing wrong’
Serving Piqua since 1883
“Therefore say you to them, Thus said the LORD of hosts; Turn you to me, said the LORD of hosts, and I will turn to you, said the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 1:3 AKJV)
Commentary
BY ALAN FRAM AND STEPHEN OHLEMACHER Associated Press
Defending ‘The Dog Whisperer’ “What mighty contests,” wrote 18th-century satirist Alexander Pope, “rise from trivial things.” The poet had sex in mind, although something similar could be said about Americans and their pets. If you think people get worked up about politics, say something “controversial” about dogs or cats. Then prepare for action. Since many dog-lovers imagine their pets as humans in fur coats, realistic observations can evoke outrage. Consider the hubbub over my favorite TV program, “The Dog Whisperer.” Cesar Millan is a Mexican immigrant whose uncanny way with problem dogs has made him a star on the National Geographic channel. Every week, Cesar visits some of the most feckless Southern California suburbanites in captivity and liberates them from the tyranny of everything from 120-pound Rottweilers to killer Chihuahuas. It’s always instructive, often funny. Cesar’s gift is what the military calls GENE LYONS “command presence.” A compact man who moves Columnist like a professional athlete, he gains instant respect from all but the most incorrigible animals simply by entering the room. Fortunately, all dogs “read” human body language better than many humans grasp theirs. People who have no clue what dogs are communicating never cease to amaze. I recently got screamed at by a woman terrified at the bumbling approach of a basset hound intent upon a belly rub. That’s like being afraid of a geranium. It’s common to see pet owners -- mostly women, in my experience -- convert dogs into fear-biters by inadvertently teaching them to cower from everybody they meet. Alas, making similar observations has landed Cesar in trouble.A recent New York Times column by Mark Derr, a self-described dog historian,criticized“The DogWhisperer”for sexism, and worse “a simplistic conception of the dog’s ‘natural’ pack,controlled by a dominant alpha animal (usually male).” Derr calls Cesar “a charming, one-man wrecking ball directed at 40 years of progress in understanding and shaping dog behavior and in developing nonpunitive, reward-based training programs, which have led to seeing each dog as an individual, to understand what motivates it.” Once it was the Whole Child; now it’s the Whole Dog. Color my neck red, but I doubt that after eons of humandog symbiosis, we’re seeing exciting breakthroughs in canine psychology. At best, animal behaviorists may be rediscovering things guys like Cesar have always known. I recently read another Times article explaining that academic psychologists now question the long-orthodox view that dogs feel no emotions. I called my veterinarian pal Randy Bob. “Doctor,” I asked, “does it strike you as newsworthy than a dog has emotions?” “Doctor,” he answered,“a bleeping dog is emotions with a nose.” Exactly.But they’re not intellectuals or even children,and you can’t reason with them.Cesar doesn’t brutalize dogs.I’ve never seen him hit, hurt or shout at one. But he does let them know who’s boss, even if it takes physical interaction. He introduces particularly aggressive specimens to his “pack” of 40-odd large dogs. Even the most belligerent realize they can’t fight everybody, and calm down fast. Maybe it’s simplistic, as Derr charges, to think that most dogs are dominance-obsessed, but it does have the virtue of being true. Supposedly, studies of wild wolf packs show that “dominance contests with other wolves are rare.” That’s because canids are more realistic than people. My wife once rescued a rambunctious 85-pound male golden retriever from the highway.Almost immediately, Big Red attempted a coup by charging the mellow but very powerful German shepherd-Great Dane mix that handled security at our place. Taken by surprise, Corliss was knocked to the ground. A brief scuffle ensued, during which the retriever found himself lifted clean off his feet by the scruff of his neck. You could see him changing his mind in midair: “OK, I can be No. 2.Two’s good. Less pressure.” Corliss and Big Red lived to a companionable old age together without renegotiating the issue. Here’s “The Dog Whisperer” in a nutshell: Somebody’s going to be in charge, you or your dog. If it’s the dog, you’ve both got problems. (It helps Cesar’s ratings that Los Angeles is chock full of attractive women who don’t get it.) He doesn’t teach dogs to navigate obstacle courses or compose sonatas.He instructs their owners how to prevent them from attacking children,eating furniture and charging city buses. Another solution would be basset hounds for all. Bassets show little interest in dominance. They’re one of two breeds (along with beagles) never involved in a fatal human attack. They’re also stubbornly untrainable. I defy Cesar to prove otherwise. After reading that actress Candice Bergen treats her basset to“foaming mousse”baths and“tree oil aromatherapy”at a Beverly Hills spa, I took mine walking in the country.They bathed in the river. For aromatherapy, they selected dead fish and fresh horse manure. Sweet, harmless, loving, but definitely not human. ArkansasTimes columnist Gene Lyons is a National Magazine Award winner and co-author of “The Hunting of the President” (St. Martin’s Press, 2000).You can email Lyons at eugenelyons2@yahoo.com.
Commentary
Why Obama is silent on killed babies A
four former employees of fter reading ghastly delivering live fetuses durheadlines about reing third-trimester aborcently convicted tions and killing them by Philadelphia abortion doceither snipping their spinal tor Kermit Gosnell, such as cord (the Gosnell method), “Gosnell Jury Hears About stabbing a surgical instruBaby Surviving Abortion in ment into their heads or Toilet” (Steven Ertelt, life‘twisting their heads off news.com, May 9), there NAT HENTOFF their necks with his own was this sudden message: bare hands’” (“Second “White House: No ComColumnist ‘house of horrors’ abortion ment on Gosnell ‘Beheading’ Babies in Abortions” (Steven Ertelt, clinic where doctor ‘twisted heads off fetus’ necks with his bare hands’ is inLifeNews.com, April 15). Why was Barack Obama silent about vestigated in Texas,” May 16). Pow, citing anti-abortion group Life this “house of horrors”? Maybe because, as I’ve previously reported, he didn’t Dynamics’ video interview with one of want it known that as a state senator in the doctor’s former employees, writes Illinois, he had persistently opposed a that in these latter murders, the fetus bill, the Born-Alive Infant Protection coming completely out “was still alive Act, which would have provided medical because it was still moving and you care for babies who survive botched could see the stomach breathing.” The Texas Department of State abortions. He had voted “No” on the bill in March Health Services is investigating. As for Gosnell’s “house of horrors,” we 2001 and “Present” later that same month. Explaining Obama’s vote, World- now know that his “abortion center was NetDaily reports, “in the Illinois senate, inspected only after a federal drug raid voting ‘Present’ is the equivalent of vot- in 2010. It was the first time the facility ing ‘No,’ because a bill must have a ma- had been inspected in 17 years because jority counting only ‘Yes’ votes to pass” state officials ignored complaints and (“Gosnell Conviction a Setback for failed to visit Gosnell’s Women’s Medical Society for years” (“Kermit Gosnell Jury Obama,” May 13). Jill Stanek, an Illinois nurse and pro- Hung on Two Counts, Doesn’t Say Which life advocate whom I had previously in- Ones,” Steven Ertelt, LifeNews.com, terviewed, testified in 2003 before the May 13). While some states didn’t need Gosnell Illinois Senate Health and Human Services Committee on the Born-Alive Infant to be awakened to the need for strenuProtection Act. She told of a colleague ous oversight of abortions, what about who “accidentally threw a live aborted the many others that do? As WorldNetbaby in the garbage who had been left on Daily senior correspondent and author the counter of the Soiled Utility Room Jerome Corsi insists: “After the Gosnell conviction, no state wrapped in a disposable towel. “When the associate realized what she health official can rest comfortably that had done, she started going through the abortion doctors are acting responsibly, trash to find the baby, and the baby fell unless the state has a history of rigorous health standards applied by abortion out of the towel and on to the floor.” As president, Obama has steadfastly clinics operating in the state.” This includes, he adds, making sure supported late-term abortions. But he doesn’t need to worry about the public restrictions on late-term abortions are being reminded of his rejection of the actually being followed. Because I am among the many pro-life Born-Alive Infant Protection Act. That’s because of the unyielding media atten- and pro-choice Americans mourning tion that’s been concentrated on his Jus- those babies who were assassinated by tice Department’s invasions of the Dr. Kermit Gosnell, I will end with this: Notorious late-term abortionist LeRoy Associated Press’ First Amendment freedoms, as well as the Internal Revenue Carhart “was awarded the 2009 William Service’s questioning of citizens’ politi- K. Rashbaum, M.D., Abortion Provider cal groups, focusing, for example, on Award by Physicians for Reproductive those with “patriot” and “tea party” in Health ... NARAL Pro-Choice America their names. The IRS was also curious to (which no longer stands for National know if any of these groups had publicly Abortion Rights Action League, given opposed specific policies, like Oba- that some people might think that name icky) gave him its Hero Award that same macare. Of what country does Obama think year” (“Kermit Gosnell Is Not an Outlier,” Shannen W. Coffin, nationalrehe’s president? As for Dr. Kermit Gosnell, his case is view.com, April 12). Coffin contiues: “There’s very little difdone. In the May 15 Wall Street Journal, Peter Loftus reports that he has been ference between what Carhart does on a sentenced “to spend the rest of his life in regular basis and what Kermit Gosnell prison for the murders of babies who (stood) on trial for.” When is NARAL Pro-Choice America were born alive at his Philadelphia abortion clinic, avoiding a potential death going to demand the return of that Hero penalty in a deal with city prosecutors.” Award? I’m a pro-lifer who agrees with Jerome But the horrifying details of his case have startlingly educated many Ameri- Corsi: “Now that murder charges have cans, including this one, about the ex- been found to apply to abortion practices tent of other “houses of horror” in Pennsylvania, no state should assume a health department trying to be politithroughout this nation. The Washington Times’ Jeanneane cally correct can be assumed in the fuMaxon writes: “Gosnell’s clinic is not the ture to be free of criminal liabilities.” Including murder. only ‘house of horrors’ in our nation. In recent years, 15 states have investigated Nat Hentoff is a nationally renowned substandard conditions and providers” (“Why Big Abortion shares Gosnell’s authority on the First Amendment and the Bill of Rights. He is a member of the guilt,” May 15). For one of many examples, Helen Pow Reporters Committee for Freedom of the reveals in the Daily Mail that “Houston Press, and the Cato Institute, where he is doctor Douglas Karpen is accused by a senior fellow.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the storm over the agency’s targeting of conservative groups told Congress on Wednesday that she had done nothing wrong in the episode, and then invoked her constitutional right to refuse to answer lawmakers’ questions. In one of the most electric moments since the IRS controversy erupted nearly two weeks ago, Lois Lerner defended herself during a brief appearance before the House Oversight and Reform Government Committee. The committee is investigating the agency’s improper targeting of tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status, and Lerner oversees the IRS office that processes applications for that status. “I have done nothing wrong,” said a stern-looking Lerner, sitting next to three other witnesses and reading from a written statement. “I have not broken any laws. I have not violated any IRS rules or regulations and I have not provided false information to this or any other committee.” Lerner then said she would invoke her Fifth Amendment right to avoid incriminating herself. Nine minutes after she began speaking, committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., excused her and Lerner left the hearing room through a rear door, escorted by her lawyer and several other men. The men quickly whisked Lerner into an elevator, where several of the men physically pushed back television camera operators who were trying to film them. Lerner’s refusal to answer questions was not a surprise. Her attorney, William W. Taylor III, wrote a letter to the committee this week saying she would do so. Lerner revealed the agency’s targeting two weeks ago and apologized for the actions.
FRANK BEESON GROUP PUBLISHER
SUSAN HARTLEY EXECUTIVE EDITOR
LEIANN STEWART ADVERTISING MANAGER
CHERYL HALL CIRCULATION MANAGER
GRETA SILVERS GRAPHICS MANAGER A CIVITAS MEDIA NEWSPAPER 100 FOX DR., SUITE B PIQUA, OHIO 45356 (937) 773-2721 WWW.DAILYCALL.COM