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editorial pWmi
Choose and lose
Daily Nebraskan editorial policy is the
product of an editorial board consisting of
Editor-in-chief Jim Gray, Managing Editor
Tom Lansworth and News Editor Randy
Beam. Individual editorials represent the
views of the writer but not necessarily those
of all editorial board members.
It is often said in election vears that there
isn't a nickel's worth of difference between
the Democratic and Republican candidates.
In this year's Senate race in Nebraska, tnere
isn't even a penny's worth.
On the Republican side of the ticket is Sen.
Carl T. Curtis, veteran politico and stauch
supporter of the Nixon administration.
Throughout his overly-long stint on Capitol
IF I WERE" A CAftPEMT-ER,
AHD You IaERe AREAUBUCAN,
WoL-P You 7oT For me anyUY?
Hill as hoth senator and representative, CurtisN
has more than sufficiently demonstrated his
expertise at helping big business, ignoring his
constituencv and especially in getting himself
rp-elprted. He consistently has ignored the
plight of the young, women, racial minorities
and the poor. He has left the small farmer to
rot, backed an upward-spiraling military
budget and voted to retain big-business tax
loopholes.
On the Democratic side, at least for now, is
the ever-popular Terry Carpenter, veteran
politico, Unicameral fat cat and sometime
Democrat. Carpenter, a perennial enemy of
UNL students, won a space on the
Democratic ticket by beating four other
contenders, any of whom probably would
have been more attuned to the thoughts of
Nebraska voters.
In the Unicameral, Carpenter has exhibited
his persistence, ingenuity and mostly his
resistance to constructive change. He also has
displayed his vengeful nature by trying to cut
off the student fees to the Daily Nebraskan, a
frequent critic. His conservative stands in the
Legislature have proven that the ultra-right
can be just as insane as the ultra-left.
This duo leaves the voter with no choice.
Curtis probably will win the election, simply
because the Democrats have slit their own
throats by choosing a man of only nominal
support in the Democratic Party, especially
one with such a limited appeal.
Admittedly, Curtis has the edge in both
experience and in power-placement in the
Senate. This could be used to help Nebraska,
although that prospect is doubtful with Carl
in the driver's seat. It is more likely his
influence and power will be used to support
big business, to the chagrin of his
constituency.
So for that constituency, the choice is
between Tweedledum andTweedledee. And
neither is adequate. j
The most reasonable alternative, it seems, is
not to vote for either, by leaving the senate
ballot unmarked.
Or, even better, one could write in Mickey
Mouse for senator. That, rJeast, would be
honest. &
, - Jim Gray ;
How to end the Thone Age
Roy Baldwin is a senior majoring in political
science.
Well, it looks like Congressman Charles
Thone has sewn up the crazy vote. I thoroughly
enjoyed reading John Vihstadt's endorsement
of the re-election of our congressman. I am a
supporter of Rev. Darrel Berg, the Democratic
candidate for Thone's job.
John's endorsement of Rev. Berg's opponent
is good news to us because we know that any
reasonable person, after reading John's
comments on Ted Kennedy in the Oct. 4 Daily
Nebraskan will realize that whoever John
endorses for office will be the wrong guy.
But I don't want UNL students to vote for
Rev. Berg just on John's advice. Let's give a few
positive reasons.
0U9Si
opinion
Let's first look at Thone's "record" in
Congress. John says it's his strongest point.
Thone says in his literature he has "from the
very first urged accelerated withdrawals of
American troops from Vietnam". From the
"very first" day of October, maybe.
The fact is that our congressman voted no to
every end-the-war amendment that came his
way. The fact is that our congressman is bathed
as deeply in innocent American and Asian
blood as his boss, Richard Nixon.
page 4
Thone makes much of his anti-SST stand,
but he has never fought to cut back our
ever-expanding war budget.
Thone said in 1970 that "our farm families
must have relief from the economic pressures
they face". Yes indeed, but what's the record?
The record shows Thone failed to fight
against the disastrous nomination of Earl Butz,
failed to fight against the lifting of beef import
quotas and didn't even try to get a seat on the
House Agriculture Committee, where every
farm state congressman should be.
These are three issues; there are many more.
But I think my point is made. Let's look at
personalities now.
And let's be blunt. Charles Thone started his
political career as an office boy, and he hasn't
changed. He got the nomination for Congress
because of his employment under and loyalty
to Roman Hruska, th3t fountainhead of
mediocrity. If he wins his race in 72 he'll be
first in line for Roman's seat whenever that old
crook decides to step down.
Charley Thone is on the ground floor of
what he hopes will be another generation of
Republican dynasty in Nebraska. Unless we
stop him now, there's no telling how long he'll
be around.
Rev. Berg believes that junior executives like
Thone have no business representing the needs
and interests of the people of Nebraska. Rev.
Berg has spent his life caring about people-in
the ministry, in a myriad of community
organizations and now in politics.
His message to the students at UNL is, don't
be fooled by Charley Thone's "liberal" talk.
Don't be fooled into voting for a guy that
hasn't done a damn thing for you in two years
and now doesn't even have the guts to come
back to the state and face his opponent in open
debate.
Let's elect a congressman for once who is
sensitive to the needs of the people of Nebraska
and who is courageous and independent enough
to serve those needs. Let's put an end to "the
Thone Age."
daily nebraskan
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monday, October 16, 1972
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