Letters to the Editor: Feb. 13, 2026
Get a real Republican
This moderate Republican has praised the News-Register many times and still thinks we are lucky to have a newspaper, left-leaning though it may be.
I have a criticism, though. It has to do with the News-Register now including columns by Jonah Goldberg, suggesting that because he is a so-called conservative, including his work makes the paper more fair and balanced.
I remember watching and listening to Goldberg when he was on Fox News several years ago. He’s not a conservative no matter what he or the News-Register claims.
I think the News-Register includes him under the guise of presenting both sides when he actually hates Donald Trump. In my opinion, this is false advertising.
I am disappointed in the News-Register. Get rid of him.
Get a real Republican voice in your paper. That would be the really fair and balanced thing to do.
A side note to the “Margarets” of the world:
I take it that “viewpoint” means giving your opinion — eloquent or not, right or left — no matter who does or does not agree with or like it. I suggest the focus should be on the issue presented, not the verbiage used.
Judy Hromyko
McMinnville
Work in tandem
The news articles and opinion sections of our local papers seem to center on the negative aspects of the federal enforcement of immigration law.
I believe we must consider a more difficult question: Why is this enforcement necessary in the first place?
We are either a nation of laws, where each citizen is granted equal rights under the law, or we are not.
Under the Biden Administration, the borders were swung wide open and millions let in without vetting or proper status. It was not legal, but done anyway.
Mostly, the press and the Democratic Party were silent. With the protection of “sanctuary status,” a very questionable legal term, these folks were granted medical care, education and, in some cases, cash support.
Many were good people unschooled in what it meant to be part of a constitutional republic. But some were criminals and some were revolutionaries.
I do not believe these illegals should be allowed to vote, be counted as part of our population for legislative purposes or be bounced in front of others who want to come in legally and have waited years to do so.
The federal government is trying to correct this, not an easy task.
Our taxes pay for federal, state and local police support. They should be working together to enforce the law, not at cross-purpose.
In states and cities where they are working together, there does not seem to be a problem. I pray here in Yamhill County we can learn from that example and not let things get out of hand, as it has in some areas.
Dennis Goecks
McMinnville
Rooted in racism
As a Christian and retired pastor, I must condemn the president’s recent Trump Social posting depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.
While the video is only 62 seconds long, Trump claims he didn’t watch it to the end. (Really?)
And since he had nothing to do with it, he did nothing wrong, so has nothing to apologize for. (Really?)
To him, the Obamas are his enemies. Because he has publicly stated that he hates his enemies, he finds justification in such racist actions as this posting.
Many Christians of a certain type continue to support Trump. I call on them to declare his action something a follower of Jesus surely should publicly condemn.
Robert Thompson
McMinnville
Whose land?
What did the Native Americans call this land before it was stolen from them?
“Ours.”
Ann Helm
Lafayette
Odious racism
Trump’s disgusting and racist post — the one representing the Obamas as apes, which has now been deleted — is especially appalling coming during the opening days of Black History Month. His administration has gone out of its way to erase and belittle the contributions African Americans have made to the nation.
It is increasingly ominous that Trump should be reaching for the oldest and most odious of racist tropes, as he talks of nationalizing elections in American cities with large black populations. And it is insulting that he would try and blame this pathetic post on a nameless staffer, even though it came near midnight, which is his preferred time to post.
If someone else is responsible for this video, they should be identified and held accountable. If Trump himself made the post, then he should apologize to the Obamas and make amends. But I won’t be holding my breath.
We need to be focused on delivering a strong rebuke to Trump’s violent racist conduct at the one place that will hurt him the most – the ballot box in November.
Bernadette Hansen
McMinnville
Comments
Doggydude
I believe Judy does not know what "Moderate Republican" means. From her last letter in the Oct. 31 edition:
"Donald Trump is the greatest president this country has ever had."
"You dumb, ignorant protesters. Don’t you realize you are marching for Hitler?"
"I have special disdain for the paid protesters supported by George Soros and his son, Alex, who should never have been given citizenship. How can we get rid of this vermin? How do they live with themselves?"
Mr. Goldberg comes from the classic right leaning conservative movement. He is not in the MAGA movement that has taken over Republicanism the last decade.
Bigfootlives
Dude.
Mr. Goldberg is a globalist. Like the Bushes, the Obamas, the Clintons, the McCains, the Lindsey Grahams, and Sean Hannity, just to name a few. He is there to sell to the public more money for the corrupt, untouchable, unaccountable government agencies, more foreign wars fought with our money and children, and more national debt than we could ever hope to pay off.
And for keeping track of Judy's posts. Document everything, you know how nazis can be, apparently. And make sure you get all of mine, I've got some good ones.
Dave
Do your own research. Don’t just take my word for it. Use Google, Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.org/), National Institute of Health (www.nih.gov), your local library or your favorite source of legitimate medical information! Investigate the definitions and diagnosis of “NARCISSIST” and “PARANOID”. I expect that you will find that President Trump is increasingly meeting the classic definition and diagnosis of a “Paranoid Narcissist” (which is also called a “Malignant Narcissist”)!
Now investigate one more question: “Who were the world’s most famous paranoid narcissists?” You will find that the most common answers to that question are “Hitler” and “Stalin”!
One more thought: How will future history books describe those among us who supported and encouraged a 21st century version of Hitler and Stalin? How could we justify that to our grandchildren?
David F. Pfendler, M.D.
Jerry
To Dennis Goecks:
You mention that you don't believe "illegals" should be able to vote. Actually, the right to vote is granted to US citizens. Non-citizens are not able to vote regardless of their status. This is per federal law, (18 U.S.C. § 611) makes it illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections. All states including Oregon provide that only US citizens get to vote.
You also say that "illegals" should not be counted for legislative purpose. By that I take you to mean they shouldn't be counted for apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives. They are counted for a simple reason; the Constitution. The U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 2) requires that seats in the House be distributed “according to their respective numbers” based on the decennial census count. That counts everyone, men, women, children etc. You may not like it, but that's what the Constitution says.
And while I'm on a roll: All non-citizens have the rights of due process equal protection of the law. This is per the 14th Amendment:
“…nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Jerry Hart
tagup
Thanks Jerry,
Seems that lots of people these days are happy to ignore the Constitution when it doesn’t suit their agenda.
treefarmer
It seems that among the devoted fans of dear leader are those who view the malignant narcissism clearly and value it highly. They stop at nothing to praise, justify, and defend this autocratic regime. For reasons not easily understood they relish the vulgar bullying, the billion+ dollar gifting, the purposeful infliction of cruelty to generate fear, the squandering of tax dollars ~ and then do their best to glorify the atrocities. (right down to spewing hateful insults and manufactured “facts,” or the Orwellian attempt to warp the very concept of “good.”)
I look forward to the gathering on March 28 when We The People will make our numbers seen and our voices heard. So grateful to those who keep us mindful that true American values and decency are still alive and well. And worth fighting for.
Otis
"The earth is just a resort for 500 rich people and the rest of us are just the staff."
I'll see you all on March 28th....sign in hand!
Otis
Update on No Kings Protest in Mac:
March 28th 1-3pm
This time it will be on BOTH Adams and Baker Street sidewalks - starting at 2nd Street and continuing north
(due to the amount of people anticipated).
We're hopeful that this protest will crack the 12 million mark nationwide.
Let's GO!