Letter: Russell is Neither Racist Nor Anti-Semitic

To The Editor:

Joe Carvin’s vicious and unfounded personal attacks on his Republican primary opponent, Jim Russell, reveal more about Carvin’s character than they do about Russell. Russell is neither racist nor anti-Semitic. His writings reflect an in-depth, scholarly, and unapologetic advocacy of our great Western Civilization and its historical accomplishments. His impeccable academic credentials include Masters and Doctorate degrees from Fordham University in “The History of Christianity” and “Historical Theology.” He has also taught these subjects at St. Peter’s College. And the publisher of his book enjoys world-wide esteem in it’s field – namely The Oxford University Press. It’s not in the business of publishing street-corner bigots.

It is scandalous that certain opportunists would take a few words out of context, twist and expand on them just to serve their selfish, political purposes. Not only does this misconduct have a chilling effect on speech, but in the process defames and maligns a good and honest man.

As a Republican District Leader I am voting for Jim Russell on June 26th. And I urge all those thinking otherwise to recall that his opponent, Joe Carvin, is a Republican in name only who cast his vote in 2008 for Barack Obama.

Richard E. Henzel
Ossining