Richard Shafer, Grand Forks, letter: Attacks on Mock reach a new low

GRAND FORKS — The 12 column inches of letters attacking North Dakota secretary of state candidate Corey Mock for columns he wrote for the Dakota Student in 2007 are reminiscent of the “witch-hunts” of the early 1950s.

Back then, many of our best and brightest Americans were mercilessly attacked for thinking and questioning, which is what college students should be doing.

That some Republican aide had the time to go through old copies of the Student — out of a desperation to discredit Mock — is pitiful and an insult to thinking North Dakota voters.

So what if Mock had doubts about the creator? I’ll accept his record of good work at the Third Street Clinic, helping the poor and uninsured, as evidence of his dedication to the essential “do unto others” ethic.

As for his opponent, who we are supposed to assume is a better Christian, perhaps he was spending too much time in prayer groups to get the state a more efficient computer system to manage our elections.

Mock is smart, energetic and technology-savvy. The secretary of state’s office shouldn’t be a permanent position. Mock will serve us well if elected.

Richard Shafer

Tags: in the mail, corey mock, secretary of state, elections 2010, opinion, politics