Inside UDJ by Editor K.C. Meadows

I got a call this a morning from a represenative at Patty Berg's office who was outraged at the TWK column Sunday about Patty. He wondered how a daily newspaper could run such an innaccurate, mean column. He was upset at the pokes at her physical attributes, implying that the column was specifically misogynistic and that I should not have allowed TWK to call Patty's look mannish. I got the impression he was trying to accuse TWK and thereby me of some kind of human rights violation, but wasn't clear what kind. I basically told him that TWK is what it is, a column some hate, some love and which is usually offensive to someone, in this case Patty Berg, but as a politician she should certainly be able to shrug off such things and if she wanted, was welcome to respond to it. He said never in a million years would she do that. He was disappointed, he said, that I didn't at least correct some of the factual errors, like that Pattty is "the highest and most exalted of our elected officials." I said I don't correct this column any more than I do factual errors in letters and other columns. He wasn't happy that I would not condemn the column and promise to take TWK out to the wood shed.
About an hour later I got a call from another of Berg's people telling me that, whoops, Patty's schedule just isn't going to allow her to meet with me as scheduled this Thursday in Ukiah at 11:30 a.m. Well thank goodness, that's one thing off my list for Thursday. As for Berg's folks, you're way too senstitive and since you called to ask me if Patty could some and see me - as politicians like to do from time to time to make sure I know what wonderful things they have done for the district - it's no problem to me if she wants to bow out.