Media paint one-sided picture of Tom Kemp

Media paint one-sided picture of Tom Kemp

EDITOR:

The print and broadcast media have focused considerable attention on the upcoming parole hearing of Thomas Kemp. All of this attention has been focused upon the views of family members of Mr. Kemp’s victim, Thomas Beno. I think it is only fair that the other side of the story be presented.

I am a childhood friend of Tom Kemp. His father and my father were best friends. As a family friend, I feel I should try to insure that Tom gets a fair and impartial parole board hearing. The Vindicator, in an editorial of Sept. 5, requested that the pubic send a “flood of letters” to the parole board to deny parole. I see no point in the public writing, nor the parole board considering, letters from people who knew neither Mr. Kemp nor Mr. Beno. A lot of negative and erroneous things have been said about Mr. Kemp, both on TV and in the paper. I would like to refute some of these allegations with facts.

The victim’s family claims that Mr. Kemp has no remorse for shooting Mr. Beno on November 14, 1988. I talked with Mr. Kemp’s wife yesterday. She says Tom calls her every day and has for 20 years. She says further that every day, every single day, he feels terrible about shooting Mr. Beno. The Beno’s claim that Mr. Kemp is some sort of evil monster and always has been. In fact, Mr. Kemp had no previous police record, and, in 20 years of incarceration, has had no disciplinary infractions whatsoever. He has done extensive community service and receives the highest possible ratings in his job assignments. These are verifiable facts. I am not trying to portray Mr. Kemp as some sort of role model. What he did was terrible and he realizes that. He daily regrets that he cannot bring Mr. Beno back. What I am asking for is that he receive a fair and impartial hearing. We have a parole system because most of us have enough faith in the human condition to believe that people can change, that they can be rehabilitated. I think Tom Kemp should be given that chance.

RALPH KANE

Salem

Children aren’t props

EDITOR:

I am truly and utterly disgusted with the sympathy card being handed out by Sarah Palin. The thought of an advocate in the White House, to support and help special needs individuals is pleasant and long overdue. To use a special needs child as an advantage with all of the political crossfire and propaganda is not only distasteful, it is a contradiction.

Some critics have made statements for the people to not bring the lives of the politicians’ children in the middle of the campaign. “Respect the privacy of the children” can be heard loud and clear, but to deliberately use a special needs child for political gain is a disgrace.

Who is taking care of the innocent baby while mommy is out campaigning? Better yet, when the child begins school, how will he be served under the No Child Left Behind Act? Sarah Palin is using her special needs child as a political crutch. Parents are faced with many obstacles throughout life. All children are gifts from God and should be treated as such.

“One nation under God” should not be altered to better suit a politicians’ gain.

Stating that the war in Iraq is brought on by the will of God is ignorant, and Sarah Palin is just another drone fallen victim to the Bush administration.

I hope and pray that the people of this great country have enough common sense to see through the sick and twisted facade of the Republican party.

ALEXIS PERRY

Struthers