Writers' campaign of character assassination

In reading the April 27 pro-Ives letters by Larisa Calvanese, Mary Plunkett, Glen K. Solo and Paul Szmanda, the song "Ghost Riders in the Sky" unaccountably came to mind. Then, when I realized how similar the four letters were, "Ghost Writers for J Ives" popped into my head.

All four letters cover the same two points, almost identically trying to defame Sean's character. All four accuse Sean of signing a petition to include green entrepreneurs in those eligible for federal loans because he owns stock in a green energy company.

As a strong advocate of efforts to slow global heating, of course he invests his own money in green energy firms and wants those in distress to receive new federal loans. But, except for conspiracy theorists, there is nothing in the petition he signed that would suggest Sean himself would benefit. And this is such a trivial point that only those committed to defaming Sean would raise it.

All four accuse Sean of being pro-Chinese, another attempt at defamation. Which is laughable when one recalls that Trump himself was pro-Chinese until it became necessary to find someone else to blame for his unforgivable blunders and braggadocio.

Of course, none of the letters mention that Sean's people called elderly residents to find out how they were doing and offer any assistance necessary, a large and vital undertaking.

My intent in this letter is not to defend Sean. But to point out that it appears to me that Ives is trying to mislead district voters into thinking her campaign's vicious attempts at character assassination are actually initiated by grass-roots supporters. Ghost Writers for J Ives indeed.

Darold Barnum

Oak Park