I don't understand the irrational ranting of the Jews in this Lima News -- they seem to have an extremely confused political perspective that I have trouble believing reflects any substantial trend in their community:

http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=49275

Beck picking his hate groups
Ronald Lederman Jr. - Feb. 17th, 2008
News media 101 for whoever replaces Allen County Sheriff Dan Beck: When you don’t want to draw attention to something, don’t hold a news conference about it.

That might seem like common sense, but it appears to be complex thought for our four-term sheriff.

Beck held a news conference Wednesday because the local media hadn’t reported on a white supremacist group’s claims that it sent and passed out racially derogatory fliers to Lima residents. During that news conference, he said he didn’t want to give such groups media exposure.

Huh?

Beck said he doesn’t want hate groups to gain media exposure the media already were denying, so he holds a news conference? How does anyone even pretend to explain how that works? It’s a given that, when an elected official holds a news conference, the local media cover it. Beck knows this.

Beck acknowledged the group distributing the fliers likely broke no laws. Offensive speech is protected speech, after all. “I’m not so sure it’s a violation of the law, but I’m not so sure it’s not an attempt to incite panic in our community,” Beck said about the fliers. He also could have been talking about his Wednesday news conference.

Beck also said he doesn’t want hate groups coming to Lima. He said those distributing the fliers “are hate-mongers and they are racist.” He’s right, but let’s look at those Beck has invited and those to whom he’s traveled to deliver his message.

The Southern Poverty Law Center calls the Illinois Minuteman Project a hate group. The Minuteman Project describes itself as dedicated to protecting America’s borders, though like Minuteman groups elsewhere, the Mexican border is the Illinois Minuteman Project’s concern. And Beck took his show on the road last year to speak to the Illinois Minuteman Project. Beck’s also made a road show of visiting other northern communities worried about large numbers of Hispanics moving in. Who complains about checking everyone of a certain skin color when some of them might have broken the law?

Beck also has indicated a desire to bring a chapter of the Federation for American Immigration Reform to Northwest Ohio. That group has expressed hate-filled sentiments against various segments, but it’s mostly about limiting immigration. One might suggest that has something to do with the skin color of most people now coming to this country. But Beck, who doesn’t want hate groups here, does want that group here.

Beck seems more comfortable with groups that use the law to keep out those who look different than he is with groups that are open about their hatred. Perhaps Beck has trouble dealing with people who are honest.

Someone should ask Beck about this. He once invited me to one of his news conferences, but I had the audacity not only to show up to hear how wrong I was, but also to ask a question. Beck ended the news conference there. He’s yet to ask me back.

So you know, I’m not calling Beck a racist. He’s an opportunist. A largely white, conservative populace here has decided illegal immigration is a problem, and Beck found an unnamed source to tell him three of every four Hispanic people in Allen County are here illegally. Beck also won’t deny he is considering a run to be mayor of Lima, a city that is more than a quarter black. Now, suddenly, he has unverifiable reports of two white men with swastikas on their coats walking the streets of Lima.

Someone might ask Beck how he keeps finding these unnamed, unverifiable sources that match his agenda so well.

Beck does deserve some credit. He announced last week that he had told Maj. Sam Crish and Capt. Steve Hoverman they had to leave their jobs as they campaign to replace him. Beck is stepping down as sheriff at the end of this year. He said he will not pay Sheriff’s Office employees to campaign.

Beck has said he won’t fill either spot, so the Allen County commissioners might point to those savings when Beck asks for the almost $18,000 he chose to spend on extra security during the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s visit last week. But, that would require the fortitude to point out that Beck was using his office to run for another office. Don’t count on the commissioners denying him the money. Allen County taxpayers can take comfort knowing they’re helping Beck pay to be Lima’s next mayor.

Comment on this and other subjects on Ronald Lederman Jr.’s blog: http://www.limaohio.com/lederman.