Bestest Headline Ever
Middletown official defends Christmas
Next up in the let's-not-do-our-job-behind-the-scenes
-and-discuss-issues-in-committee-like-we're-supposed-to
-when-we-can-pander-to-the-press-and-generate-headlines-
about-ourselves category:
Councilman comes out strongly against cancer
Committeewoman: "Drowning kittens is bad"
Gosh, I'm proud that my elected officials are taking really important, non-controversial press grabbing stands so they can avoid issues that actually matter at the municipal level like, say, excessive bonding.
Labels: APP, Middletown
posted by Jackie Corley @ 1:17 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
It's a philosophical debate that we have in our offices, in our homes and across the nation everyday. I just personally believe our officials would better serve by, oh I don't know -- actually serving us, than getting on a soapbox about their own personal beliefs.
I'm a Christian and I understand the committeeman's complaint at a personal level. I find it more offensive that he's using Christmas as a means of grandstanding and grabbing press.
I think you're a bit too harsh here, Jackie. To single out Scharfenberger when committee members everywhere do this sort of stuff is a bit harsh. There is in fact a concerted effort by some looney fringe groups to suppress Christmas in our public society. Christmas is a part of our American culture, as much a part as Thanksgiving and Columbus Day. To suppress Christmas would be as ridiculous as calling a Menorah a "holiday light assembly facility."
That said, I believe Mr. Gabrielan to be well versed in American culture and the importance of respecting our traditions of Christmas, Hanukkah, etc. Had I been in Scharfenberger's shoes I would probably have solved this matter with a friendly phone call.
As to whether Scharfenberger is actually serving us, I'll leave that up to the voters of Middletown to decide; if he's not doing the job then they can vote him out.
You barfed on John Merla? Too funny!
Well, not on him but very near his feet.
I think there should be a New Jersey Press Association Award for most embarrassing moment in reporting.
I agree that the "Happy Holidays" vs. "Merry Christmas" debate has gotten out of hand. I just believe that how Mr. Scharfenburger chose to handle it was a bit off the handle. And I can only surmise that he did that to grab a headline.
I also tend to believe that Middletown's government does not operate on a fiscally conservative philosophy and that that will only hurt the township in the long run. It's time to cut-up the bonding credit cards and come to the table to make some responsible decisions about how to govern Middletown, not hop on the "Happy Holidays" vs. "Merry Christmas" debate that is pretty irrelevant to government at the municipal level.
I think there should be a New Jersey Press Association Award for most embarrassing moment in reporting.
Yes. I can see how that would be very embarassing. As a journalist, you should be in control and serious. Invulnerable.
But look at it this way... you're in good company. The first President Bush nailed the Prime Minister of Japan dead in the lap at a dinner in Japan. On camera. As I remember, the PM was way cool about it, too. (I guess you could say Japan was both nuked and puked by the USA!)
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