Why are you not going after Ken Lay and his Enron buddies who defrauded their employees in the amount of over 1 Billion dollars? Are you all just a part of the "Good ol Boys Club", after all. It is disgraceful the way you have tried Martha Stewart in the press. I always thought someone was innoncent until proven guilty. This is one of the worst smear campaigns your body has perpetuated on the American public. Are you all so hungry for publicity that you go after an icon who has brought much pleasure to many in the guise of justice. Go get the big fish, it's time.

Rhoda Goodman

Dear Congressman,

Watching Members of Congress' efforts to get Martha Stewart to their legislative committees is disgusting. Be careful what you wish for -- she has legions of fans and the footage could be most unseemly. Perhaps women would feel better about this if Jeffrey Skilling and Kenneth Lay were under indictment.

Seems to me that Martha acted on a supposition, not fact. Her stockbroker noticed that Imclone was being dumped by the CEO's family and presumed that meant trouble. So he passed it on to Martha. Maybe he acted improperly but it sure doesn't seem like she did.

How about giving her credit for no accounting irregularities; no illegal fleecing of the corporate wealth; no efforts to avoid payment of taxes? She's been a model to lots of American women.

Kathy Kustra

Dear Congressman,

I believe that your current attempt at investigating Martha Stewart shows your lack of priority in what's important in this country. This is a woman who is the American dream. She started with an idea and made it worth millions. Her involvement in this stock sale is honest and forthright. Given her overwhelming fortune, this matter seems a bit of a stretch. Please quit furthering your own career and focus on matters that are of more importance.

Matthew Burns
Nashville, TN

Dear Congressman,

I DON'T even like Martha!!BUT...The INCREDIBLE amount of time you are spending on this when our own vice-pres and president have ties to companies that have amassed billions by defrauding the American public is INFURIATING, CRIMINAL and INSULTING! Not to mention the ways they and other "legitimate" corporate criminals have betrayed and RAPED Americans in other transfers of wealth! STOP these distraction/terrorist tactics and focus on Mr. Greenspan, the World Banking System and you know the rest!!!!! I, as well as others, have had it with the inequity and corrupt politics!

Deborah Roberts

Dear Congressman,
Food for thought: Martha has a huge support base - probably about as large as any candidate considering a bid (or even a rebid for the White House) and most surely larger than any congressman from either party. At a time when war in the Middle East seems imminent, don't you think creating the perception that your priority is to attack Martha makes you look just a little silly? Hope this helps you get your priorities straight.
I trust you understand who compromises Martha's supporters - we're not just a group of bored housewives with nothing better to do all day than to watch Martha on TV - we vote!
Have a nice day.

Gigi Faryar

Going after Martha Stewart is nothing less than a witch hunt. Were Martha a man, none of this would be happening. All one has to do is read about the MALE executives and the outrageous frauds they have committed upon their employees and this country (legal bills, IRS refunds, etc.) to know the enormous extent of their greed.

Martha Stewart should be THE EXAMPLE for all working women ... to show what a woman can do if she really puts her mind to it. Who cares of she's a bitch. Every woman is a bitch once in a while. What is the male equivalent of bitch? Male business executives are sleezy, nasty, thieving, greedy, fraudulent every single day. I know; I used to be executive secretary to some of them! They lie and cheat every single day, and nobody is even going after them. But LET ONE WOMAN MAKE A BIG SUCCESS OF HER BUSINESS, and the government, the media, men AND WOMEN are after her with a vengeance.

Why are women so mad at Martha? Because she did what we can't do? And why is that? Because woman don't unite. We scratch our claws on other women we perceive to be more successful, more beautiful, richer, happier, etc., etc., ad nauseum, ad infinitum. We love to see other woman fail (fall?) to justify our lack of personal success. Give it up, ladies. It's time we unite behind Martha and let her know that she is the beacon we will all follow. She has broken through the glass ceiling in ways we haven't even thought of! Let her success be ours also. Stop this terrible thing that women do to each other ... Let her alone! We need her to speak for us.

Jeanne Hoff

There are bigger fish to fry than Martha Stewart. Why don't you use the "good old boy network" to go after the individuals who are really raping this country and leave Martha alone. Can you really believe she would be stupid enough to risk it all for the measley amount of money she made on that stock? She didn't get where she is by being foolish and this is just a spiteful attack on a successful business woman, woman being the key word here. All this wasted testosterone is definitely not "a good thing"! The whole situation would be ludicrous if you weren't ruining the life of a decent person. Shame on the bunch of you!

Carol Cappleman

Dear Congressman,

Is this Martha Stuart investigation an attempt by
Congress to get the public's mind off of Enron?
Enron destroyed many American lives by taking their life savings, yet as of August 20, 2002, there has not even been one conviction.
Do you really think that the American public is that clueless and that we don't know that you all are just trying to avoid dealing with the real criminals?

Sincerely,

Anita Young

Dear Martha,

Hang in there this too shall pass. You have worked extremely hard to get where you are in life and deserve everything you have. You have provided employment for many persons and brightened others' lives with your projects and interesting T.V. shows.

It is so much easier for a weak, unaccomplished, misogynist congressman and a congresswoman, who was born to hate other women, to attack you rather than pursue big corporations because they are scary and they might get their hands slapped. They might be the butt of negative publicity (horrors), and lose some big campaign funds. Some of them might have to work (at the job they were elected to perform). Instead, the hypocrites find it most important to pursue you! HUNH?

I propose that when this blows over the government should retain you to prioritize Congresses' workload so it will know which issues are most important. That way, when employees come to work in the morning they'll know what project they should be working on and not have to have two cups of coffee and an hours' conversation with other staff and interns, plan lunch, dinner and golf, etc., before they figure out what they should be doing that day. After finishing the prioritization, I'm certain you could evaluate their computer system and help them get maximum use from it. Just kidding, anyone in their right mind wouldn't touch this offer.

These comments do not apply to all our government officials, many of whom work extremely hard and do their utmost to be fair and just.

Happy Birthday-go to a tag sale and feed your chickens!

Sharon

To: CNBC Powerlunch:

The targeting of Martha Stewart is a skirmish in a political war. Congress should leave her along and go after Ken Lay and Enron, and Haliburton.

Where are your reports about them?

The beginning salvo in this battle between this group in the White House and the American People was the raping of the West of their Energy money. People are STILL suffering out here. Our current electric bills are 200% higher than they were under the Clinton administration. Why do I see this as an economic salvo in a political war? It sure didn't happen in the states that voted for Bush, did it? Only in the tightly held Democratic states of the West.

People across America have no where to turn. Stations like yours seem to be on the side of this crooked administration. Somehow you feel this is a more honest, and perhaps more promising way to earn even more money.

When will you understand that the reason the ratings on TV and elsewhere are so far down the tubes, as well as the Dow being so far down, is the other side reacting to this economic WAR? This is our payback, our weapon if you may. We REFUSE to support your side with our dollars!!!!

Embargo, guys, embargo. And it's happening on Wall Street, and you are too FRIGHTENED to report it.

Cynthia
Washington

Dear Congressman,

I saw Rep. Jim Greenwood (PA) quoted as saying "We haven't found anything that supports her contention that she is innocent." Is this an accurate quote? Is this how your committee operates--do citizens of this country have to come before a Congressional committee and prove their innocence before they are legally convicted of any crime? Just when did Congress acquire this authority? When do you spend taxpayers' money operating an extra arm of government? Are you the executive branch of government as well as legislative now?

ImClone sold 7,730,200 stocks on the same day that Martha Stewart sold 3,923 shares. Does that resonate with you at all? Does it mean anything to you that it has been 8 months since the Enron collapse and not one person has been charged with any crime? Martha Stewart sold some stocks--in another company, not her own--as a private individual. That transaction had no
effect on her company and its employees and shareholders. So when are you going to get over how much Martha gets on your nerves and get some Enron executives in front of Congress? I'm counting down the 200+ days.

Margot Fernandez

Dear Friend,

I support Martha Stewart. I believe that the media is treating her unjustly and that she is being treated differently because she is a woman. If it was Mark Stewart instead of Martha then she would be one of the good old boys and it would be ok or just swept under the carpet like the other men who have done much, much worse then her minor problem.

Please stop

Let's focus on the real bad guys and leave Martha alone.

MC Davis

Dear Congressman,
Stop attacking Martha Stewart. Focus on the wrongdoings of Ken Lay, etc. In other words, the really "big crooks" who control Washington D.C.

This is a political scam.

June

It's time to let people know you are serious about big business crime that hurts our friends and families, not a person who may have profited $20,000. and that very questionable. It's like laughing at the people who who lost all their retirements and jobs to witch hunt after Martha Stewart, who has done nothing but to help them in past with good American values and advice to make our homes better......I am really upset at Jay Leno, I have watched and support him since he began 10 years ago, he is starting to do anything for a laugh, no matter the pain he may cause.......The unity of 911, didnt last very long did it.....Let's join together and focus what the real issues, the Enron and Welcom scandals.......Thanks

tim

Happy Birthday Martha,

I'm behind you all the way!

As one of your stockholders I shall continue to hold my position and believe you will emerge stronger than ever.

Nina Tokar,

Dear Congressman,
Martha Stewart got no "inside trader" information
that is not available to the general public through
the internet. I have an Ameritrade account and can go to the "insider trades" button to see the full report on the buys and sells at any time.

kw

Dear Congressman,
I was born and raised in your great state of Louisiana....I know how shocked and suprised you are by corruption and greed in government.LOL...The Martha Stewart thing has me really upset. I didn't send Dubuya Bush any money in the envelope he sent me during the last election. I just knew that if he got elected I'ed need to hold on to what little money I had. I didn't have a corporate jet to loan him for peanuts so he could steal the election, and the VP, Chaney, isn't my book-keeper. I sold my 20 shares of stock when the Republicans took the White House. Just because I knew the market was straight down hill from there. Is that insider tradin'???
I now live in fear of being called before congess to explain how I could have been so heartless, and criminal in my financial dealing.
Do you really think the country wants Martha???
No, we want the BIG BOYS in Texas...and DC. Who have destroyed so many peoples futures. We want them Behind Bars, where they belong...Thank you.

Earl Davis

Dear Congressman,
You along with your fellow congressmen continue to waste the taxpayers money on inconsequential matters. Have you forgotten 9-11, and the thousands of employees of Enron & Global Crossing who have lost their entire life savings. Please use your power, energy and my tax dollars on something that you can make a differnce on and leave Martha Strwart alone, it was just 4000 shares. Enough is Enough. Keep this up and you won't be reelected.

Catherine Pensanti

Dear Congressman,

I think your persecution of Martha Stewart is just an attempt to keep the focus off whatever Bush and Cheney were doing with Enron and other corporations. Why don't you go after the people, ex-CEOs and Federal adminstration personnel, who made fortunes knowing full well that they were at the expense of employees and shareholders. You can fool some of us, but not all of us.

Jaon Adler

Dear Congressman,

Why are you wasting time and taxpayer dollars on such a petty matter,(M. Stewart)? The ripple effect resulting has hurt thousands of people financially who hold MSTEWART stock and
is jeopardizing thousands of jobs involved with MARTHA STEWART OMNIMEDIA and all those associated with MSO. Your committee is acting irrationally and is giving the appearance of grandstanding. Get after the real perps, protect the publics interests like you were elected to do.

Rick Hamilton

Dear Congressman,

Martha Stewart is not a crook. She is a predictable target for all those envious of her accomplishments but the bad boys from Enron, Global Crossing, World Com. etc. deserve your scrutiny and need to be dealt with firmly.

Stephen Crouse

Dear Rep. Tauzin;

As an admirer of yours, I am shocked and disappointed to see that the Oversight Committee, which you chair, is taking the lead in the endless harassment and "trial-by-innuendo" of Ms. Martha Stewart.

I am not a particular fan of hers, but I do favor fair treatment, and justice, when it comes to the terrible scandals which have shaken the corporate world of late. There are too many corporate execs out there, with no charges filed, who are free, even today, to dispose safely of the millions stolen from their former corporations. Where is the fairness in this ?

The Martha Stewart situation is, in comparison to other executive excesses, a non-story, and it is bewildering to me, and others, why your committee seems bent on her destruction without her being charged with even one count !

I would strongly suggest that you and the House Committee get on about the business of corporate crime which is rampant and obvious, and leave the intimidation, innuendo, and harassment of Ms Stewart to the FBI or another law enforcement agency. They are better at it anyway.

Leave the woman alone ! And do your job going after the REAL criminals who are living the high life today, thanks to their stockholders who trusted them and from whom they stole everything.

Regards,

Judith A. Miller

Gentlemen:

I think that you have lost sight of what is important in today's world. With the economy in trouble and executives of companies who have stolen BILLIONS of dollars from American shareholders and employees, you have focused on a WOMAN who, based on second-hand information, sold stock worth less than $250,000!

What is wrong with this picture? How come YOU don't realize what is wrong without having it called to your attention?

I really would prefer it if you all took some interest in what those of us here in the hinterlands think is important. It is definitely NOT pursuing someone over $250,000 who just happens to have developed a major company FROM SCRATCH and who just happens to be a WOMAN!

Joyce R. Salmon
Green Bay WI

Letterman and Conan,

You two are both vulgar idiots, I stopped watching your shows a long time ago because David is a gap-toothed old fart, way past his usefulness, and Conan is an orange-headed traitor. Martha was on your pathetic show, helped your falling ratings and you turn your back on her when she is in trouble? You are going the way of Letterman. Down the sewer. Adios!

Lisa Hallgren

Anybody who knows anything about the securities business knows that most stop-loss "orders" are not in writing but mere expressions of intent from customer to broker. And the reason is that the customer wants the most discretion in giving a final order. And there is a second reason one does not record in writing stop-loss orders - the specialist can frequently screw them up. And secondly, most good firms do not accept written stop-loss on NSADAQ, so get it straight.

Warren A. Knight