Soros Smacks Back

Here is a text transcription (any typos are mine) from the PDF (via boingboing) of the letter George Soros sent to House Majority Leader Dennis Hastert:

31 August 2004

The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker of the House of Representatives
235 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Via Fax: 2002.225.0697

Dear Mr. Speaker:

Your recent comments implying that I am receiving funds from drug cartels are not only untrue, but also deeply offensive. You do a discredit to yourself and to the dignity of your office by engaging in these dishonest smear tactics. You should be ashamed.

For the Speaker of the House of Representatives, even in the midst of an election season, to descend to a level of political discourse where innuendo and slander replace reason, truth and argument is unacceptable.

This past Sunday, on national television, you suggested that I might be a criminal simply because I have exercised my First Amendment rights to dissent from the policies of the Bush Administration.

I am playing a role in this election because I share the concerns of many Americans and believe President Bush is leading our nation in a ruinous direction on both economic and foreign policy.

I will continue my work despite this administration's ongoing efforts to intimidate and bully a long list of people who disagree with it, from Paul O'Neil to Joe Wilson, to Richard Clarke, to John Kerry.

I must respectfully insist that you either substantiate these claims--which you cannot do because they are false--or publicly apologize for attempting to defame my character and damage my reputation.

Sincerely,
George Soros