Idaho view: Cheers and Jeers: Character?

What sort of judgment does it take to face up for the character of a convicted rapist?

Joined by Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, Kingsley wrote in assist of former state Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger, R-Lewiston.

Nowhere in Kingsley’s July 5 letter to 4th District Court docket Choose Michael Reardon did you learn a phrase concerning the 19-year-old legislative intern von Ehlinger raped in his Boise residence through the 2021 legislative session.

Nowhere did you learn something concerning the Home Ethics Committee discovering that von Ehlinger’s acknowledged involvement with a legislative intern half his age was “conduct unbecoming” a state lawmaker. Von Ehlinger resigned reasonably than face suspension from workplace.

There’s no point out of testimony documenting von Ehlinger’s sample of inappropriate remedy of ladies staffers and lobbyists — or that he was warned about it.

In writing his letter, Kingsley additionally managed to disregard von Ehlinger’s conviction by a jury after the previous lawmaker testified, “She was flirting with me, so why not?”

He’s now serving eight to twenty years in jail.

“I’ve recognized Aaron since 2019 once I was launched to him as a person that was contemplating operating for the primaries towards Thyra Stevenson,” Kingsley wrote. “… I watched Aaron deal with this with the dignity, I actually witnessed his character as these races may be tough to maneuver.”

That places Kingsley in infamous firm.

Together with Barbieri, there’s the morally bankrupt Rep. Priscilla Giddings, R-White Fowl, who uncovered von Ehlinger’s sufferer by identify and film on social media — after which lied about it. For that, she drew a censure from the Home.

There’s additionally state GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon, who belittled the sufferer: “I’m a girl. I believe I do know what it seems to be wish to flirt.”

Kingsley and Barbieri delivered no mere private reference. They despatched it on official legislative letterhead.

How egregious. Barbieri can reply to his personal voters. However what’s Kingsley doing by purporting to talk on behalf of the identical constituents who’ve already been embarrassed and shamed by von Ehlinger? Haven’t they already been betrayed sufficient by their illustration in Boise?

So far as Kingsley’s involved, “Aaron proved to me his excellent character, searching for the people who he was (elected) to serve.”

Such are the phrases of somebody who’s both out of contact or a keen dupe.

CHEERS … to U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo and former Congressman Raul Labrador, each R-Idaho.

In distinction to Gov. Brad Little, Congressman Russ Fulcher and Congressman Mike Simpson, Crapo and Labrador have agreed to look with their Nov. 8 election opponents on the statewide “Idaho Debates” televised over Idaho Public Tv.

Crapo and Labrador acquire nothing politically by doing this. They’re benefiting the voters, who can watch the candidates make their case in actual time with out counting on skilled message managers.

On Oct. 5, Idaho’s senior senator will give up the benefits of his $5.6 million marketing campaign warfare chest, which permits him to flood the airwaves and social media with any marketing campaign theme he likes.

Democratic challenger David Roth of Idaho Falls has $5,921 in money readily available.

Impartial candidate Scott Cleveland of Eagle has about $15,839.

So Crapo is giving them publicity they can’t afford to purchase wherever else.

Within the case of Labrador, who’s operating for legal professional normal, he might have one thing to danger by debating his Democratic opponent, Tom Arkoosh, on Oct. 3.

Not solely is Arkoosh an skilled legal professional who is aware of his approach round a debate discussion board, he’s additionally better-financed. In response to Idaho Capital Solar’s Kelcie Moseley-Morris, Arkoosh really had extra cash readily available final week — $182,475, to Labrador’s $147,982.

As a result of he entered the race late, Arkoosh lacks identify familiarity with voters. There’s no higher treatment for that than sharing the stage with the better-known Labrador.

JEERS … to Anna Miller, the Idaho Freedom Basis’s schooling coverage director, and Boise State College political science professor Scott Yenor.

They’re answerable for an article headlined: “Idaho authorities gives ‘porn literacy,’ different corrupting practices to Ok-12 college students.”

That’s primarily based on a contract between the Idaho Division of Well being and Welfare and Schooling Coaching and Analysis Associates.

Well being and Welfare rapidly debunked it. And fact-checkers starting from KTVB to the Related Press, from the Inlander to Idaho Schooling Information might discover nothing to assist the allegations.

IFF President Wayne Hoffman contends the fact-checkers are merely parroting the federal government. However Daniel Walters of the Inlander did what Miller and Yenor didn’t — he contacted ETR’s director of promoting and communication, Lauren Ranalli.

Right here’s what he obtained: The ETR program that gives intercourse schooling curriculum for college districts — referred to as “Decreasing the Threat” — is about abstinence and say no to intercourse.

“Should you take a look at the desk of contents in Decreasing the Threat, (porn literacy) will not be even talked about, Ranalli stated.

ETR gives a wholly separate coaching session completely for grownup educators, caregivers, mother and father and clinicians to assist them reply questions youngsters may need about pornography.

“Think about the state of Idaho shopping for a bunch of pencils and backpacks for college kids at Walmart after which a bunch of bloggers writing ‘Idaho buys weapons for youngsters’ as a result of Walmart additionally sells weapons,’ ” Walters wrote.

“Primarily the identical factor occurred right here. It’s a tactic that has been utilized by the Idaho Freedom Basis earlier than — discover some hyperlink between instructing one thing innocuous and one thing controversial, then faux that they’re instructing the controversial factor as a substitute.”

Miller considers herself an schooling professional.

Yenor — who famously referred to as ladies “extra medicated, meddlesome and quarrelsome” than they must be — is educating faculty college students.

You’d assume they know higher than to supply such shoddy analysis. Take the whole lot else they are saying with a grain of salt.