LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Harry Reid’s Koch-smear double standard

OPINION:

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s demonization of the Koch brothers does not exist in a vacuum. The Kochs are doing what liberal Tom Steyer is doing, but Mr. Steyer, the go-to guy on all things Keystone XL pipeline, escapes the calumny heaped on conservative funders.

For those who have been out to lunch, Mr. Steyer has pledged $100 million to Democratic candidates as long as the pipeline is not authorized. Mirabile dictu, President Obama has delayed a decision on construction yet again, presumably until the check cashes.

I am old and slow, so would someone please explain to me why Mr. Reid’s hypocritical outrage against the Koch brothers escapes critical comment from fellow Democrats? The lionization of Mr. Steyer, George Soros and the now-deceased Peter Lewis for doing on the liberal side what is so heinous when done by conservatives does not pass the smell test, even for this old curmudgeon who defaults to cynicism as frequently as I draw breath.

PAUL BLOUSTEIN

Cincinnati