My daddy used to say that figures don't lie, but liars figure. In the same way, "facts" can be presented in different ways to "prove" different realities.

Take the case of Dean Zimmermann. While the Star-Tribune hammers home the allegations of wrong-doing against Councilperson Zimmermann (see today's article by Lonetree,in which he does his best to paint Dean a loser and a crook), the Observer has captured the essence of the problem: that the FBI may be engaging in political maneuvering - and that it is far from proven that anything untoward happened between Dean and the (paid?) FBI informant upon whose edited testimony all the charges rest. That's the difference between abuse of the press process by the Strib and authentic journalism by the Observer. You are to be congratulated.

Anyone who has spent any time in or around the Peace and Justice movement in the Twin Cities has stories to tell of how the FBI has abused its power for political purposes. COINTELPRO, the attempt to destroy opposition to the Vietnam War, has not died, it has merely been changed into another form. This time, it is Dean Zimmermann who is paying the price (and legal defense, as we all know, is pricy indeed) for a lifetime of work on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised, starting with the Freedom Rides and continuing to this very day. Next time, it could be the Observer.

Dean Zimmermann is a poor man. He is deeply in debt due to the move forced on him by redistricting, the cost of campaigning, and the need to defend himself against these baseless charges. Contributions to his defense fund should be addressed to David Tilsen, 3220 10th Avenue South, Minneapolis MN 55407