This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Tribune editorial board wrote in its March 8 opinion headlined "Chaffetz suffers a barrage of mean tweets for nothing" that Rep. Jason Chaffetz suffered through "well-deserved mean tweets and online attacks for foolishly suggesting that low-income families could do without the Affordable Care Act if they would just show enough personal fiscal discipline to pass on the latest iPhone release."
Not content with that slam, the board went on to boldly confirm its Democratic bona fides by stating that Chaffetz's suggestion "was all too reminiscent of the old Republican — and, frankly, racist — images of welfare queens driving Cadillacs." The board's accusation that Republicans are racists is repulsive on its face, but not surprising in this publication. It is, however, deliciously rich coming from members of a political party that most recently vigorously opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Pat Bagley's adjacent political cartoon depicting Chaffetz as the devil was of the same ilk, and typically sophomoric.
Three years ago, when challenged on the cost of insurance premiums at a town hall meeting promoting enrollment in the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama's response concluded with, "if you looked at their cable bill, their telephone, their cell phone bill … it may turn out that, it's just they haven't prioritized health care." He added that if a family member gets sick, the father "will wish he had paid that $300 a month."
A respectful question to the Tribune editorial board: Was Obama's response racist?
Fred Fairclough Jr.
Salt Lake City