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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories New Bear Creek project trades blackberries for native plants Emergency Services, March 9 Phoenix Garden Club strives to help make Weed green again Ashland police confirm Hannah Thomas-Garner is safe with her father Oversold Central Point monster truck show leaves fans out in cold Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, March 9 Ashland police confirm Hannah Thomas-Garner is safe with her father Emergency services, March 8 Jackson County searchers looking for missing man Emergency services, March 7 Politics and Elections Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Education Willow Wind students raise money for water District considers options to keep school tracks open, safe Ashland School District learns why its anti-bullying rating was low Ashland district rethinks transfer approval process MSD to save taxpayers nearly $10.5 million by refinancing Environment Catastrophic wildfires expected in Southern Oregon this summer The new normal under climate change? Lost Creek Lake algae bloom subsides Lost Creek Lake logjam could become hazard for boaters Made in the Shade State News Federal judge orders speedier Klamath wildlife refuge management plan Former Josephine County students sue school district over alleged abuse Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Eastern Oregon dig uncovers ancient stone tool Team tracks new baby orca Nation - World Obituaries Jaime Winston Tucker Death Notices Joseph Elsworth William "Les" Mason Irene Meredith Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories No. 19 Stanford scores Pac-12 title No. 6 Badgers keep up hot pace OSU pitching holds off Fresno State Allred cashes in at Karibana Rare professional boxing card is on tap Varsity 541 College Sports No. 19 Stanford scores Pac-12 title No. 6 Badgers keep up hot pace OSU pitching holds off Fresno State Beavers must move on after losses Ducks on the Rise Pro Sports Allred cashes in at Karibana Dolphins, Suh near $114 million deal Murray lifts Britain into Davis Cup quarters T-Wolves snap Blazers' win streak, 121-113 Lowly Philadelphia knocks off Atlanta Community Sports Business Latest Stories Silvio Calabi: Mercedes-Benz ML250 raises the diesel 4×4 stakes Business briefs: March 7 Blog: A Few of Our Favorite Places New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Real Estate News Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Medford airport flies past January record Agriculture Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, March 9 Kathleen Parker: 'Just look at him' Letters to the Editor, March 8 George Will: Obama needs GOP to approve the TPP Dana Milbank: Hillary vs. Hillary Editorials Our View: Cheers and Jeers Our View: Take it slow on legal marijuana Our View: Small climate steps add up to big ones Our View: Drawing back the curtain on government Other Views: Brown's list of challenges is lengthy Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 9 Letters to the Editor, March 8 Letters to the Editor, March 7 Letters to the Editor, March 6 Letters to the Editor, March 5 Columns Kathleen Parker: 'Just look at him' George Will: Obama needs GOP to approve the TPP Dana Milbank: Hillary vs. Hillary Charles Krauthammer: Netanyahu's Churchillian warning Philip Maddocks: Homeland Security is prepared to let its protection of Congress run out after this week Guest Opinions GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Guest Opinion: Don't overregulate Oregon's hemp industry Guest Opinion: Predatory banking practices bilk citizens Guest Opinion: Is less education the answer? Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding Lifestyle Latest stories Get A Life: Smell the roses Day Trippin': A picnic lunch at a McCloud River waterfall Home Help: 4 ways to redefine your outdoor space Silvio Calabi: Mercedes-Benz ML250 raises the diesel 4×4 stakes Community blog: The Future is Now Food Community blog: Airy mousse rivals ease of pudding from a box Page Onorato: Please don’t take my Goo Goo Clusters away Season Stepp: Celebrate Pi Day with these tasty pie recipes Tammy Kelly: Bring back the potatoes Pantry pride Home and Garden Home Help: 4 ways to redefine your outdoor space Dear Monty: Home seller seeks to start bidding war Paul Rogers: Looking for signs of new life Home Help: Enhance your home-office experience Specialty painting adds wow to your walls Health Community blog: The Future is Now Dr. Murray Feingold: Cognitive-behavioral therapy shown to help hoarders Dr. Jeff Hersh: Gallstones affect 25 percent of American women Health Watch: Get prepped for spring break HealthStyle: Marriage care and maintenance Hiking Biking Faith More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Milestones and Achievements Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Live Music in Local Clubs Darrin Wayne steps to the plate at Rising Stars Alice DiMicele plays the Unitarian Fellowship Southern Oregon University Wind Ensemble to present 'All American' Theater TMTO's 'Bye Bye Birdie' takes flight Brava! Opera presents classic Mozart and Poulenc Review: 'Fingersmith' a twisting thriller with love TMTO presents 'Bye Bye Birdie' 'Guys and Dolls' a sure bet for dazzling entertainment Music ZEPDRIX! at the Historic Ashland Armory The Bee Eaters play Headwaters Ladysmith Black Mambazo plays the Craterian Theater Live Music in Local Clubs Darrin Wayne steps to the plate at Rising Stars Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Dining Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW New Bear Creek project trades blackberries for native plants ... Oversold Central Point monster truck show leaves fans out in cold ... Missing teen Hannah Thomas-Garner found safe ... New Bear Creek project trades blackberries for native plants ... Oversold Central Point monster truck show leaves fans out in cold ... Missing teen Hannah Thomas-Garner found safe ... ANOTHER VIEW Kathleen Parker: 'Just look at him' MailTribune.com Writer Posted Mar. 9, 2015 @ 2:00 am Posted Mar. 9, 2015 @ 2:00 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> "At least nobody died," we often hear in politics to explain away some regrettable act. As in: So, yeah, maybe President Obama wasn't telling the complete truth about keeping your doctor, but at least nobody died. Or: Oh, sure, we said mean things about her, but she can take it. Words aren't lethal. With the recent suicide of Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich, we should lay such thoughts to rest. Words do wound and, in this tragic case, they apparently kill. Schweich, a Republican who had just begun his gubernatorial race, already had come under some ugly fire from an unaffiliated political action committee that mystifyingly calls itself "Citizens for Fairness." In the group's poorly written, nasty radio ad, the narrator mimics the Frank Underwood character from "House of Cards" and directs his commentary at Schweich's appearance. The ad says in part: "Tom Schweich, like him? No. Is he a weak candidate for governor? Absolutely, just look at him. He can be easily confused for the deputy sheriff of Mayberry. ... Once Schweich obtains the Republican nomination, we will quickly squash him like the little bug that he is and put our candidate, Chris Koster, in the governor's mansion." Charming. Schweich, who has been widely commended by colleagues for his flawless work as state auditor and as a devout Christian who actually acted like one, also felt he was the victim of a "whisper campaign" that he was Jewish. How disturbing that in 21st-century America somebody thinks that voters can be won over with anti-Semitic bias. In fact, Schweich had Jewish ancestry from his grandfather, but he was an Episcopalian — as absurd as it feels to have to make such a distinction. That religion should be used as a reason to vote against a qualified person in this country is nauseating. The same can be said about race, gender or any other prejudice born of whatever darkness clouds people's thinking in an allegedly enlightened age. Schweich had wanted to make public his conviction that the whisper campaign was started by state GOP Chairman John Hancock. The problem was that Schweich had no real evidence. Although Hancock has indicated that he may have mentioned that Schweich was Jewish as part of his biography, he didn't intend it as a slight. No one, including Schweich's close friend and mentor, former U.S. Sen. John Danforth, who is now an Episcopal priest, felt Schweich should expose his suspicions. Schweich, however, was determined and had called a reporter to set up an interview at his home just before he put a revolver to his head and pulled the trigger with his wife nearby, according to reports. The timeline is fraught with mystery. At 9:16 a.m., Schweich called an Associated Press reporter to come by at 2:30 p.m. At 9:35, the reporter called back to confirm. At 9:48, police received an emergency call from Schweich's house. What happened in those 13 minutes? What caused Schweich, a Yale and Harvard Law graduate, to kill himself in that moment? Was it political bullying? Was there something else we may never know about? Another phone call? A threat? In his eulogy for Schweich at Tuesday's funeral, Danforth zeroed in on the lousy state of our politics. "We often hear that words can't hurt you. But that's simply not true," he said. "In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said just the opposite. Words for Jesus could be the moral equivalent of murder." No doubt a "Law & Order" episode is already being written along these lines. The truth is we don't know what caused Schweich to take his life. Some people can handle more criticism than others. Women in the public eye may be toughest of all, given the intensity and content of criticism they've been subjected to. If I could fill a book with my collection of insults over the past 27 years as a columnist, Hillary Clinton could fill a library. Politics have always been a blood sport, a fact that some find worthy of boasting. But as we consider that America has lost a good man who was aspirational in his politics and inspirational in his private life, we face a question with an implicitly foreboding answer: Why would any decent person want to run for public office? Indeed. Kathleen Parker's email address is [email protected]. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Mar. 9, 2015 @ 2:00 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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