On a regular basis, a number of individuals have responded negatively to my guest commentaries on politics and public affairs. They have included assumptions about my background and motivations. As a result, they have a perception that I am using the commentaries to promote the Republican Party in general, and Donald Trump in particular.
Such assumptions and perceptions are simply not true.
I am not an avid supporter of Donald Trump in his comeback bid for another term as President and have not been an avid supporter of him since he launched his first presidential campaign.
In one guest commentary last fall, I even predicted he would not be nominated as the 2024 Republican presidential candidate.
I am not an avid supporter of the Republican Party and have never been a blindly loyal voter for Republican candidates.
Beginning with the first election when I was eligible to vote and continuing to today, I have NEVER voted a straight Republican ticket in any local, state, or national election.
Candidate quality has always been and will always be my guiding principle when deciding who to support and for whom to cast my vote.
At one time I was active in the Republican Party. I served as chair of the Republican Central Committee of Talbot County (RCCTC) and as a member of the executive committee at the Maryland Republican Party (MDGOP).
I voluntarily stepped down as RCCTC chair in February 2022. That resulted in my relinquishing my seat on the MD GOP’s executive committee.
My past service with the local and state Republican Party is old history and irrelevant to today.
Since February 2022, I have not had any conversations or dealings with either organization.
With regard to the upcoming presidential election, I acknowledge that Donald Trump has flaws. So does Kamala Harris.
That said, I embrace the observation of Don Nielson, the author of Presidential Leadership: Learning from United States Presidential Libraries & Museums.
Nielson writes, “… leaders are not perfect. Try as they might, every leader still has flaws. They still make mistakes. They still fall short. They still have regrets. They still yearn to do better. Every leader is imperfect.”
On at least two occasions, I have written positive commentaries about a Democratic leader.
In one I praised Democratic President John F. Kennedy for his masterful leadership during the Cuban Missile crisis. His leadership has led many historians to conclude his actions avoided World War III.
In another guest commentary on President Kennedy, I suggested voters everywhere should embrace his timeless admonition to always ask this question — “What am I not being told?”
In all my commentaries, I strive to engage independent thinking and to follow lessons learned about bipartisanship from two awesome political mentors.
One was a Republican State Senator in Pennsylvania whom I served as his administrative assistant. Our office received more constituent requests for assistance than any other Senator.
His ironclad rule was to help everyone regardless of their party affiliation, relative level of support or lack of support for him, or their views on the issues. We never researched or even considered that information before we worked diligently on every constituent contact on every matter regardless of how small or how big.
A second mentor is the CEO of a Pennsylvania based public affairs and public relations consulting firm where I serve as Maryland Director.
For almost 45 years, this mentor, a staunch Republican, was a close friend of a long-time equally staunch Democratic political operative in Pennsylvania.
His friend served as the Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, as a communications director for two Democratic governors, and as a communications director for two Democratic Speakers of the House in the state House of Representatives.
For over 20 years, my mentor and his friend were verbal sparring partners on a weekly point-counterpoint television program. They also sparred in point-counterpoint columns for two publications and frequently shared the stage at conferences, seminars, and classrooms. Many times, they rode together to and from those events.
In a city mayoral election, my mentor provided campaign counsel to a Democratic candidate because he felt strongly that she was the best person for the job.
Last but not least, my mentor hosts a monthly policy briefing at our office in Pennsylvania.
On a regular basis, Democratic elected officials, Democratic candidates, and Democratic party operatives are featured as speakers and are welcomed as guests.
Going forward, I will continue to offer my thoughts based upon a lifetime of participating in and observing a wide range of events in the political arena.
I will continue to respect the right of those who choose to disagree, sometimes vehemently, with the central messages in my commentaries.
I will continue to read every comment, pro and con, on my commentaries with a willingness to think “You may be right.”
In return, I ask all who disagree with me to do this:
Refrain from attacking my opinions using unsubstantiated assumptions about my background and motives.
Focus more on my content, staying on topic and giving due thought and consideration to that content, rather than trying to attack the messenger.
Remember two former and greatly missed U.S. Supreme Court Justices – conservative icon Antonin Scalia and liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsberg. They were polar opposites on their opinions on almost every issue brought before the court. Still, they respected each other and never attacked each other. Justice Scalia said it best, “I attack ideas. I don’t attack people.”
David Reel is a public affairs and public relations consultant who lives in Easton.
Dan Watson says
Sounds fair enough. No doubt uncertainty arose from due to your well known service on local RCC…which you’ve addressed.
Thanks for addressing head on, and ideas are indeed the thing.
DW
Paul Connolly says
It’s a shame David Reel has been harassed for sharing his observations. As a Republican, and a concerned U.S. citizen I can’t bring myself to vote for or have anything to do with Trump. On the other hand, those who support the Democratic Party are supporting a failed effort at governing. Our National Debt is growing exponentially. Our welfare system discourages efforts by the unemployed from taking enough effort to find a job. A poor person, living in a state with few opportunities is much more likely to stay home and accept welfare rather than leave his home and move to a state where he might find better opportunities. There’s a great editorial in the Wall Street Journal today by Allysia Finley about this.
Deirdre LaMotte says
If you are worried about our national debt,
check out the last R’s contribution to it.
Also fact: the debt increases when Rs are in….
they just love their tax cuts for their billionaire butties.
Sarah Keating says
Thank you, David. I try to read your articles in the manner in which you have just described. I find them to be thoughtfully prepared. This response was well done.
William Keppen says
Hello David, I cannot summon up all of your writings on any particular president or the current nominees for president in the upcoming election, slated for November 5, 2024, I believe. To my way of thinking, as a registered Independent, who is regularly disappointed with my voting options, one thing is very clear to me. I would much prefer to vote for the candidate that carries with them flaws that do no, or little harm harm to the general public of the United States, rather than the one that would rather speak lies for his/her own personal power and gain. Guess who I will be voting for. Thank you for sharing your views. I bear you no ill will or disrespect. Citizen Bill
Eleanor Wells says
I certainly understand your wish to not be subjected to personal attacks and I respect that but you cannot have it both ways, Mr. Reel. In your recent post you made a disturbing armchair diagnosis that President Biden was suffering from dementia based on your heartbreaking experience with your father. That was your personal, private family information to share and you used it to advance a theory. In this instance I believe you invited a personal response. You have absolutely no way of knowing the prognosis for Mr. Biden. If you stick to the facts, not speculating on an unknowable, particularly one as dreaded in all families as Alzheimer’s/dementia, I can respect your writing even when I don’t agree with it.
Dick Deerin says
I have read your articles and appreciate that you bring these issues to the public space. I don’t always agree with you, but that’s what democracy is all about. One minor nit. When you first began publishing your columns, I recalled that you had been head of the Talbot County Republican Party. I would suggest that you should have laid out your background as you have here. I look forward to your take as we move through this election.
Beth Mufson says
In keeping with the quote from President Kennedy “what am I not being told”, I would ask why has the MSM consistently downplayed, or in many cases not reported at all, the criminal behavior engaged in by former President Trump? And why have many members of Mr. Trump’s family and close allies been unable to obtain a national security clearance from our US Defense Department?
Beth Mufson
Mickey Terrone says
Mr. Reel, your sophistry appears to have no limits. Your ongoing effort top normalize Trump’s bizarre 2024 campaign and to legitimize his anti-American, bigoted, racist madness as written in Project 2025, remains camouflaged in your vague, benign rhetoric. You continue to deny the obvious.
Donald Trump’s campaign includes denial that he will accept the results if he loses. He has alluded to war in the streets if he loses (again). He has discussed declaring himelf emperor for (at least) a day. He says he will deport immigrants by the millions and referred to them as vermin infecting the blood of Americans. He has called for a military tribunal for Liz Cheney. His utterly blatant false statements are routine. His claim that God has chosen him requires candid, unequivocal condemnation from everyone who understands the cynicism and demagoguery involved.
Your articles never seem to acknowledge the depravity of all this, as well as his degenerate praise of Putin, Orban and other horrendous thugs. Your failure to condemn these completely disqualifying ravings of a madman are what I find unworthy of an otherwise experienced political pundit like you.
Make no mistake, your claim of victimization by your critics is empty. Your obdurate refusal to call out the of Trump and most of the leading Republican state and congressional leadership places you squarely in their midst. Trump’s candidacy is an existential threat to our American democratic republic.
Your writings talk all around these issues yet you seem to suggest there is nothing unusual about the Trump campaign, even as he ramps up the racist bigotry against Harris. Until you address with candor these threats to our American system of government and way of life, you are a spokesperson for Trump’s degeneracy, simply by nonchalanting the madness of his campaign.
Beth Mufson says
Well stated as always Mr. Terrone!
Bishop Joel Marcus Johnson says
What he said!
Barbara Lee Jefferson says
Great job Mr. Terrone!!! Let’s not beat around the bush, Trump is pure, unadulterated evil. There is nothing good about him. He should never have been allowed to run again. Look what he did on January 6th. He has lined the Supreme Court and Judge Cannon to do his dirty deeds. He won’t accept the results of this election, either. The orange orangutan belongs behind bars.
Pamela McCloud says
Of course you are free to express your opinions without anyone attacking your character. However, as you describe the political milieu you and I grew up I cannot but wonder if that has any relevance today.
You saying you are not a “avid” supporter of Trump leaves me puzzled as to what kind of supporter you are since he and his acolytes do not fall into the gentlemanly scenario you create.
Finally, you duck any serious analysis of your ambivalence by saying they both have flaws. False equivalency at work?
Now is time to take a stand on what is happening today and not bury heads in the sand hoping miraculously we will find our kumbaya moment. We can only regain that when we nominate candidates with strong ethical and moral grounding.
Michael Davis says
Mr. Reed’s comment about Justice Scalia reminds me of the column he recenty wrote about the Democrats. In both cases, Mr. Reed addresses one thing and ignores the context. That ignores the elephant in the room. In the case of the Democrats, he ignored Trump. In a single paragraph above he writes that both Kalama Harris and Donald Trump have flaws. He ignores that Trump’s flaws are a thousand times worse than Harris’s.
And the happy thought about Scalia, “I attack ideas. I don’t attack people.” That’s patently false. His opinions concerning gay rights reek of pathological hatred of gay people. He writes that no one wants to live nextdoor to a gay person. And no one wants to interact with gay people. Hence, they should have no rights at all. The language he wrote in his legal opinions is exactly like that used by racists for centuries. It is hatred attacking people, not ideas.
Okay, he never said hateful things about Ginsberg. But she was straight. Saying one good thing about Scalia is like pointing out that Mouselini made the trains run on time or Hitlter said some good things about training boys. That last point was made by Moms for Liberty.
Trump, Scalia, Mouselini and Hitler should not be addressed in a vacuum. Mr. Reel too often ignores evil elephants in the room.
Eric Ploeg says
Your views are welcome and worthy of consideration. After all, that’s the purpose of discussion. No explanation should be necessary. Does the Spy really need more editorials reinforcing the same view over and over. The aura of D.C. is permeating The Eastern Shore more and more.
Kent Robertson says
Thank you Mr Reel. The bias of the media (on both sides) and the rhetoric from leaders of both parties don’t just evoke strong emotional responses…they are DESIGNED to evoke those responses. I wish people could recognize that, and that they understood that the moment a personal attack occurs, all communication ceases. When they attack personally, they do it to make themselves feel better, and to shut you up. They want Affirmation, not Information.
If we as a nation are to survive as a true democratic republic, we must not just allow, but encourage civil debate. How else are we to become an informed electorate? Certainly not by reading or watching the news, nor our politicians. We learn by opening ourselves to different ideas, weighing them on the scales of our own experience and common sense, and understanding that we might be wrong.
Jan Bohn says
Wish more people agreed!! Civil discourse is so needed!!