I'm not thrilled with the title this response was given but they did print it and I thank The Reporter for that.

Posted In The Fond du Lac Reporter July 7, 2006

Commentary: GOP leader defends using parade as campaign venue

I am writing in response to Managing Editor Mike Mentzer's column about "therapy."

You wrote that you are "angry" about Republicans being "allowed to participate" in the Memorial Day parade.

Let me understand. You are "angry" that citizens of this community want their organizations to come together to honor our war dead? You are "angry" that the very people who represent the democratic process our heroes fought to preserve might want to thank them publicly?

In your column, you attacked the Fond du Lac County Republican Party for its participation in the Memorial Day Parade. It is unfortunate that you chose this media to "unload" your anger against your ideological counterparts. The proper thing to do would have been to contact the party and express your concerns rather than spout them to a captive audience of tens of thousands of people (a whole month after the "unfortunate incident" took place).

Those of us that comprise this organization are hard-working family men and women, faithful Americans, ordinary people (not paid staff or political opportunity seekers), with a fierce love of country and a rich knowledge of America's history. Contrary to your implications, we understand what Memorial Day is all about and that is why we chose to participate in this parade.

For your own information, we followed the given rules of the parade in every way – we did not throw candy, nor did we advertise products or services. However, "playing politics" is your own therapeutic term, not to be found in our parade instructions.

We entered the parade to join our community in honoring the fallen and to show that Republicans do indeed remember the tremendous sacrifices that have been made over the years in the name of our nation. How do you think we have received the right to free speech and the right to assembly (such as in a community parade)? Isn't it only because of these same fallen heroes that we have a democratic and free election process?

We also went to the parade representing these same views held by our candidates for office who were not able to be present to show their thanks to our American heroes in person. How can Mark Green possibly be in 72 county parades at one time? How can people know his stance if we do not convey it for him? Mark Green is a tremendous lover of country and has great respect for our war dead and our veterans of war, as well.

Who are you to dictate who should be "allowed" to participate and who should not? Is it possible that you are using our deceased war heroes and Memorial Day to lash out against a party that you do not support?

I do not know if the Democrat Party had a float in the parade, though I would hope they did. I believe they should have been afforded the right to have one if they chose to do so.

If you would have contacted the Republican Party, we could have explained this to you in person, but rather, you chose to see things as you wanted to see them and then mischaracterized our intentions without even knowing what they were.

If you truly are "angry" over this, Mr. Mentzer, you are probably in need of some real therapy.

Jim Kiser is vice chair of Fond du Lac County Republicans and Fond du Lac co-chair of Green for Wisconsin.