<p><strong>To the editor:</strong></p><p>A lack of verifying quotations and/or verifying statistics. Both are hallmarks of John Krull’s opinions we are subjected to as readers of the Daily Journal.</p><p>In a recent literary folly of Krull’s, “Afraid of fear itself,” he abandons his directives of tolerance, understanding and unity (those apply to others not him) saying President Donald Trump’s “connection with the people who support him is that he’s every bit as gullible as they are.”</p><p>That serves as the substance of Krull’s analysis. If you do not agree with him, you are a fool and perhaps worse. If only Krull’s analytical capacity rivaled his heightened arrogance.</p><p>The self-appointed “smartest guy in any room,” Krull takes aim at women, African Americans, Hispanics, adults aged 65 and older, and men who supported Trump in 2016. All gullible.</p><p>I wonder if Krull would label as gullible anyone who believed in the debunked Russia collusion; who trusted FBI leadership to protect core constitutional rights; who thought FISA warrants met basic evidentiary standards; who thought a July 2019 call with President Zelensky was an impeachable offense; and who thought if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor.</p><p>Krull rightly expresses support for peaceful protesters under the First Amendment but is his support as steadfast for the Second Amendment or the Fourth Amendment (which the DOJ trampled on its way to conducting surveillance of Carter Page)? The Constitution that President Trump took an oath to uphold and defend (as Krull kindly reminds us) is the same one the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in NLRB v. Noel Canning, by a 9-0 vote, that President Barack Obama violated. It seems fair to say that Krull’s level of indignation on constitutional violations depends on whose rights are being violated.</p><p>In making over-the-top, unsupported and divisive comments, Professor Krull merely mimics the hyperbolic comments that come from the White House almost daily. In the future, it would be refreshing if Krull quit extrapolating his biases, stereotypes and fears to wide portions of the population. Krull is simply no more qualified to speak for “us” than I am.</p><p>Professor Krull’s sophomoric rant may draw high fives (or elbow bumps) in the journalism faculty lounge, but for this reader it merely serves as another nail in journalism’s well-deserved coffin.</p><p><p><strong>Stephen LePage</strong></p><p><p><strong>Center Grove</strong></p>
