Letter to the editor: Jean Carnahan's merits stand on their own

With regard to Brent Lawrence's column in the Nov. 11 - 17 issue of Springfield Business Journal "Political ads, election day leaves voter with hangover", I take issue with the flippant remark regarding Senator Jean Carnahan only holding public office just because she was married to a career politician. Excuse me, you obviously don't know anything about the Carnahan family history.

First of all, the Carnahans are regarded by people in the know as being in public service.

Their record of accomplishment speaks for itself. Just look it up.

Second, you have obviously not been around Mrs. Carnahan to observe how well she knows the issues notwithstanding that she is right on the issues. She is also an articulate as well as an eloquent speaker, as well as being exceptionally gracious and one of the strongest human beings I have ever met, man or woman.

Third, she has over 40 years of experience in the field of public service. It was a rare occurrence that she was not in the same ill-fated plane as her late husband that October night in 2000.

They were a team! She wrote speeches and handled campaign funds, among other duties. Not to mention sharing the same stands on issues as her late husband, constantly working side-by-side with him and knowing how to get things done. Your comments sound as if you consider her nothing more than Susie Homemaker.

Fourth, she hit the ground running when she was appointed to her late husband's seat: authoring class-size legislation; serving on the committee that came up with the budget compromise; going with the first group of senators who toured Afghanistan; authoring legislation that gets tough with corporate crooks; and the list goes on and on.

She has left a superb impression on everyone she worked with in Washington in a very short period of time. All you have to do is ask.

Fifth, I guess it's OK for Jo Ann Emerson to take over her husband's Missouri's 8th Congressional District seat after he died. After all, she's a Republican. Funny how you didn't mention that little item.

Actually, your article has some merit overall.

You missed the boat entirely on Mrs. Carnahan, however. Journalism requires doing one's homework before going to print. After all, someone who knows what's going on just might read what you write.

David J. Thomas

Springfield