The firestorm over "Stalking Gary Bauer"

I'm very disappointed that Salon would endorse the type of activity Dan Savage engaged in.

I'm no fan of Gary Bauer and will suffer no remorse as his candidacy comes to an untimely end, which it undoubtedly will. But to deliberately try to make other people sick is, in itself, sick.

As long as Salon continues to endorse this by continuing to publish anything by Dan Savage, I will no longer be a patron.

Deliberately passing influenza virus germs is a chilling prospect. I'm sure your advertisers will be very interested in the type of antisocial, pathological behaviors you apparently endorse.

-- B Fritz

I couldn't keep from laughing as I read Dan's column. Although I was a little disgusted at his biowar campaign, his insight into the hard right of the Republican Party and the Bauer campaign was wickedly on target. It was an exceptionally well-written column.

--Chris Tharrington

OK, first I laughed about Dan Savage's attempt to give Gary Bauer the flu. Then I thought about it for two seconds and was ashamed of myself. Just what does Savage think he accomplished? First of all, when the Bauer people find out about this, it will, no doubt, only make them more homophobic. Second, for all Savage knows, Bauer's had a flu shot. But there's no guarantee that more vulnerable folks who come into contact with doorknobs in Bauer's office have had their vaccines.

How is Savage going to feel if someone from the custodial staff -- possibly someone with a suppressed immune system -- comes down with this rather serious illness because of his reckless, violent prank?

-- John Gamache

I am amazed that, through publication, you endorsed Dan Savage's article "Stalking Gary Bauer." That's exactly what we need today: Irresponsible media encouraging violence against politicians who don't agree with their views. What's next, the chronicle of an HIV-positive gay activist who tries to infect Bauer with AIDS? But then, why stick with biological warfare: There are plenty of left-wing fanatics out there who would be happy to just gun Bauer down if it would get them a headline.

And this is all done in the name of "freedom." Freedom of speech, open debate of ideas -- these are all fine with liberal fanatics so long as the speech and debate agree with their politically correct views. Now it's open season on conservative politicians -- but don't you dare touch old growth forests!

-- Larry Waters

I read with interest this article by Dan Savage. It was well-written and interesting.

According to the article, he does his best to infect Gary Bauer and his staff members with the flu and lies on several occasions.

If Mr. Savage is so willing to lie to achieve his ends, how can I believe this article? What kind of ethic allows someone to infect others with disease?

-- Mike G. McDermott

It's no secret that Dan Savage is a fearless maverick, and his wonderfully malicious revenge on the evil politics of Republican Gary Bauer made me laugh out loud.

Of course, I figured right off that some tight-assed p.c. readers would liken Savage's viral generosity with the spreading of another such virus, but that view is as damning and claustrophobic as Bauer's moldy views on gays, single parents and abortion.

Besides, anyone who's been knocked flat by this damned flu bug can tell you that it raises your temperature and your dander; a well-deserved doorknob-licking was not only called for in this case, but it would have been grossly negligent of Dan to not "share the wealth."

-- Trish Gushue

If we find Dan Savage tied to a fence and beaten to death there will be no candlelight vigils.

Perhaps someone can stick a doorknob in his mouth for decoration.

-- Ken Ward

If you loved Dick Nixon and gang for the sheer venom and cruelty of the '72 dirty tricks campaign, then you must be tickled pink with Dan Savage for his current attempt to sabotage the Bauer candidacy.

I'm no supporter of any of the right-wing, religious zealots (or any other Republican -- ever), but purposely infecting someone with influenza seems, at the very least, to be a gross violation of ordinary civility. Far worse, I would suggest to Savage, is that in spreading his slobber of disease around Bauer's nexus with the expressed purpose of harming the candidate, Savage has done something approaching criminality. After all, people have been known to die of complications related to the flu.

Mr. Savage would most certainly oppose the actions of anyone who would purposely infect another with HIV, and I fail to see any subtle distinction between that and his attempt to infect Bauer.

-- Ron Ackerman

Are you crazy? You are condoning and publishing the attempted spreading of disease to the Bauer campaign by a columnist? Does the immorality of such an action escape you? Are you so devoid of honesty and compassion for people that you would applaud actions such as these? Shame, shame, shame.

Where is your respect for the Constitution, and for the voting process and your justification of press freedom when you condone the attempted elimination of Bauer from the New Hampshire? Is this what you teach your children and grandchildren? Unbelievable!

-- John Hagan

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