To the editor:

Jonah Goldberg (Feb. 27 Journal-World) complains accurately that Trumpist Republicans are unable to state simple truths, especially that Russia started the war by invading Ukraine. But then in a paroxysm of bothsidesism, he finds it necessary to aver that center-left dishonesty somehow supports Trumpist dishonesty. Let us deconstruct Goldberg’s examples, each of which is an implicit lie in itself.

• Goldberg believes the term “illegal immigrant” is a fair-minded unexamined description, even though it includes, e.g., someone who accidently overstayed their visa (a civil offense or less).

• Goldberg believes it is somehow dishonest to capitalize “Black” but honest to capitalize “Jew.”

• Goldberg believes that using the pronoun people prefer is a lie against Webster-given schematic reality, rather than a simple courtesy like using their preferred name.

• Goldberg believes a journalistic Stylebook covering controversial language is a “hegemonic force,” rather than a necessary professional device for maintaining consistency and protecting the reputation of large communication organizations.

• Goldberg believes that a historically justified skepticism about Netanyahu’s newly discovered Hamas atrocity is the same as a lie.

• Goldberg believes that Amy Coney Barrett’s using the term “sexual preference” for what most scientists now view as innate orientation rather than fashion choice is somehow not a signal of bigotry.

However, Goldberg did get one point half right. The press did in fact somewhat underestimate Joe Biden’s declining physical and mental energy. Goldberg views that as left-wing bias, neglecting to mention the far more extreme press understatement of Trump’s declining mental coherence.

David Burress,

Lawrence