Admittedly, when it comes to providing facts, rational thought or even a smidgen of civility to his increasingly redundant letters to the editor, one should not be shocked to read yet another E. Robert Nassikas diatribe, Verbal tap dancing (The Daily Astorian, Feb.22), lacking the aforementioned facts, thought or civility.

But it was with almost a perverse admiration of his ability to skewer both truth and fact, that I read his latest fantasies presented as reality. So to those who might actually believe what he wrote about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her response to a question from Sen. Ron Johnson (R.- Wis.) during the Benghazi hearings, I offer you the fair and balanced facts.

Nassikas wrongly insinuated that Clinton responded, What difference does it make? to a question about who was responsible for the murders of four murdered American diplomats.

In fact, Clinton responded, With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk last night who decided to kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make? It is our job to figure out what happened and do everything we can to prevent it from ever happening again, Senator.

Im not making excuses for Nassikas, but perhaps he is one of those legion of Fox news viewers who could not know any better, as the same quote was taken out of context to mislead their gullible audience.

No wonder a study conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University found Fox news viewers less informed than those who watch any other television news programs, or even those who watch no television news at all. Or maybe its as Simon and Garfunkel sang in their magnificent song, The Boxer: Still a man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest.

JERRY LAMPERT

Hammond

Out of context

What difference does it make? This, according to E. Robert Nassikas, is what former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said about the deaths of four Americans in the attack on the consulate in Benghazi (Verbal tap dancing, The Daily Astorian, Feb. 22). He implies that she thought their deaths didnt matter, that she didnt care.

This is what she actually said when badgered by rookie Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis). With all due respect, the fact is we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest, or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided theyd go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does if make? … It is, from my perspective, less important today looking backward as to why these militants decided they did it than to find them and bring them to justice.

Taking things out of context in order to change their meaning is dishonest. A lie by omission is still a lie.