Dear editor:

I was shocked upon reading the headline over a report of Natalia Benoit and her political troubles.

The headline, “Reports show Natalia Benoit had links to far right groups,” appears to condone the questionable practice of determining “guilt by association,” once a habit of U.S. Senator Joe McCarthy.

All politicians who wish to understand the beliefs and policies of opponents must be allowed the freedom to fearlessly “link to” others with different viewpoints.

We should expect all our elected officials to continually seek information and ideas from all sides of the political spectrum, even the “far right.”

I would expect we’ve learned, since the days of McCarthyism, that it’s also OK for right-wing politicians to associate with socialists.

It’s the only way to understand one another.

George Dunbar
Toronto