The editor of the Winona Daily News considers the curious case of Gil Gutknecht's Wikipedia entry, in a signed editorial:
Published - Sunday, September 03, 2006
Our view: Minding and mending your words
Wikipedia calls them “edit wars.” We call them truth wars.
U.S. Rep. Gil Gutknecht’s office — presumably with a blessing since they did it twice — tried to change the erstwhile auctioneer’s biography on Wikipedia.org to edit out the inconvenient fact that Gil pledged a 12-year term limit in 1995.
It’s disturbing when any politician breaks a promise. What’s even more disturbing is how little respect Gutknecht’s office seems to have for the truth.
Relying on Wikipedia for accurate information is not a good practice. It’s been proven there’s little verification and sometimes no research on Wikipedia, an online communal encyclopedia.
But, that’s not necessarily at issue here. What is at issue is honesty.
Staff members thought nothing of trying to alter passages to present him in a more favorable light. Then, as a way of shirking blame, a spokesman for Gutknecht tried to lay the guilt at those who would look for information on Wikipedia.
Let’s get one thing clear: This wasn’t a mistake. Gutknecht’s staff meant to change facts — facts that were, at best, inconvenient during a close election.
The blame cannot and should not be leveled against those who try to seek out reliable information about Gutknecht. After all, shouldn’t we be applauding those trying to be better-informed voters?
The truth is, Gutknecht signed on for term limits and now doesn’t like having to answer to why he’s going back on his word.
Furthermore, his staff, by electronic manipulation, intended to be deceptive. Having people not know about his promise to hold to term limits is lying by half-truths. Not disclosing that fact paints an incomplete and therefore inaccurate picture of who our representative is.
Shame on Gil for not taking a tougher stance on this.
Jon Yarian, a Gutknecht spokesman, didn’t dispute his camp had tried to alter the facts and gave the reprehensible excuse that people should trust a more reliable source. That’s right: It’s the public’s fault for wanting answers.
Gutknecht’s staff gives no reason for why they were attempting to lie — that is what you call it when you don’t tell the truth.
To us, this seems worse than misguidance, it’s malicious.
In this case, the means are dirty, and the end is despicable.
If this is what members of Congress do after a decade or so of power, then maybe Gil was right. Maybe we do need term limits.
Darrell Ehrlick writes on behalf of the Winona Daily News editorial board, which also includes publisher Rusty Cunningham, Jerome Christenson, opinion editor, photo editor James A. Bowey and sales and marketing manager Tom Best. To comment, call 453-3522 or send e-mail to letters@winonadailynews.com.
Bluestem Prairie readers can help limit Gil Gutknecht's years in Congress by contributing to Tim Walz via Act Blue.
OLLIE OX UPDATE: Orange Penny Loafers and Norwegianity pick up on the editorial.
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