Jon Keith’s My Turn published on November 12th reminded me of something L. Sprague de Camp wrote, “Arguing with them is rather like wrestling with the giant jellyfish Cyanea: the substance is too soft and slippery to grasp, and there is not even a brain to stun.” Let’s see about Mr. Keith’s substance. He doesn’t cite one source. He does, however, ask a number of questions; all with easy answers that could be checked by anyone with a computer. Surely, a student of American history and geopolitics would know how to do basic research.

He sets the tone of the piece by referring to Secretary Clinton as “Mrs. Bill Clinton.” This is an old technique of provocateurs: it treats her as a mere appendage of a man, denying her the achievements that she has earned through her own merit; tying her to another person which allows Mr. Keith to use guilt by association.

Keith claims that, “she and he were entangled in several, lethal, curious deals, and financial transactions.” For shame, Mr. Keith, surely a scholar of American history should know that one of the primary rules of American jurisprudence is that a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Name the trial dates, the judges who sat the verdicts. I didn’t see any of that. This jellyfish is getting squishier at every paragraph.

Apparently, his readings in American history did not cover the difference between a state senator and a United States senator from a state. If he had taken the time to look up Hillary Clinton New York state residency, he would have found, as I did, that she bought a home in 1999 and paid taxes on it to the amount of $26,000.”(CNN.com, Nov. 3, 1999)

I find interesting his use of quotation marks to describe President Obama’s work as a community organizer. Secretary Clinton earned her post as a normal function of political life. She had legal and congressional experience; to round out her resume a foreign policy tour was desirable. No wonder Mr. Keith fears her, when the Republicans are pried out of their gerrymandered districts they can’t compete on the national stage.

He seems not to know that, “One huge problem was that the post was considered temporary ... most of the personnel working there were CIA, not State — and thus could not be paid for with standard overseas building funds.”(Washington Post, May 16th, 2013) and that: “Ham (General Carter, C.O. US African Command 2011-2013) offered a chance for Stevens to plead for more assistance, an opportunity that he did not seize (McClatchyDC, May 14, 2013). Thus, Hillary did not have authority for guarding a CIA outpost. Also, Chris Stevens was twice offered military security forces to guard the mission; he turned them down.

Keith asks which secretary of state didn’t increase security on the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorism strike. Since 9/11 happened in 2001 only Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice were faced with that question. How did they fare? During the eight years of the George W. Bush administration there were 13 attacks on U.S. embassies and consulates killing 87 people. (Politifact, May 12th, 2014) Yet neither Rice nor Powell was ever examined by the House.

A claim that the T.V. drama “Madame Secretary” is about Hillary Clinton is somewhat odd. Does Mr. Keith not recognize the difference between a fictional character and a real person?

Mr. Keith also seems not able to distinguish between a Liberal Progressive and a Liberal Socialist. For Mr. Keith’s benefit Hillary Clinton is a Progressive and Bernie Sanders is a Socialist. There is a difference.

I am not calling Mr. Keith a Nazi or a Fascist. However, he does seem to have taken Joseph Goebbels’ rules for propaganda to heart. Let’s leave the jellyfish writhing in his coat of slime and remember two quotations of Dr. Goebbels, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.” The good doctor also said, “... the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie.” I have given you sources: Keith has given you slander, lies, and innuendo. Which do you trust?

Jeff Bourget is a Coeur d’Alene resident.