McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

September 12, 2009

About the district attorney


Editor:

I was born in McAlester longer ago than I care to admit, and lived the greater part of my youth, and part of my young adulthood, in your fair city. I still have relatives in the Pittsburg County environs and I know that they appreciate the quality of life they enjoy there.

While I have not resided in McAlester in many years, and unfortunately indeed have not even had the opportunity to visit for more than 20 years, I keep up somewhat on the daily happenings of my relatives and former friends through your fine journalistic accomplishments.

When I first read of the underhanded hi-jinks of District 18 District Attorney Jim Bob Miller and his blatant usage of the powers of his office to attempt to quash valid comments regarding his personal interactions with the web-site, the McAlester Watercooler (www.mccooler.net), I said to myself, “Self, this is an unjust and contemptible misuse of powers entrusted to a public official, and this must not be permitted to prevail and establish a most heinous precedent and public policy.’’

I applaud your gallant efforts to protect the integrity and privileges of the peoples’ rights to the exercise of free speech, and I congratulate you on your triumphs thus far.

Please count me among the people who care, and I encourage you to continue this laudable effort to uphold the powers of the citizenry to exercise their God-given rights to free speech and the overthrow of despotism.

L. G. Kirkpatrick

Tarpon Springs, Fla.