Poughkeepsie Journal

On Aug. 31, I attended the Esopus Town Hall meeting with Congressman John Faso (19th district). He fielded many questions, but one of his responses was jarring.

One individual noted Faso’s earlier expressed desire for civility in our national dialogue and described her great concern about the hateful messages purveyed on Breitbart News, the prominent platform for alt-right extremists. She then asked if he would no longer accept campaign money from the billionaire Robert Mercer, who generously funds Breitbart.

To loud groans, he replied that he personally has never read Breitbart. He followed by saying that he had never heard Mercer say anything racist or discriminatory. More groans. He refused to disassociate himself from Mercer.

Congressman Faso’s dodge drew on the “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” defense. It will not wash. There are few politically engaged Americans who are unaware of Breitbart’s content, whether they’ve read it “personally” or not. Most probably haven’t read Mein Kampf personally either, but they know what it spewed.

Steve Bannon came to Trump’s administration from Breitbart, and he returned to it the day he was bounced from the White House. We can be confident that “civility” is not a value Bannon has ever cherished.

Congressman Faso can’t credibly deplore the hatred marching in Charlottesville while he accepts campaign money from those who fund the most uncivil voices in America. He might want to find the time to read Breitbart.

Tom Denton

Highland