Near-total disagreement with president isn't the same as 'hate'

Editor:

In the July 4 issue of The Columbia County News-Times, publisher Barry Paschal wrote a column about seeing a Cadillac Escalade with a sign criticizing George W. Bush for high gasoline prices. He said the driver of the SUV was Richmond County Democratic Party Chairman Lowell Greenbaum, and used that false identification to label Greenbaum as a poster child for limousine liberals -- and hypocrites. I contacted Paschal and informed him that I am the proud owner of that Escalade and that I changed the sign (before I saw his article) as I do from time to time, but not because of his erroneous column.

Paschal published an apology to Greenbaum in the July 11 issue under the heading of "Wrong Bush hater." Well, I know Greenbaum and I don't believe he hates anyone. As for me, I disagree with George W. Bush on just about every issue, but as a Christian I don't hate him or anyone else for that matter. I know that concept may be difficult for Paschal and other demonizing Republicans to grasp, but that's the way I live my life.

Paul L. Cook

Augusta