From: Cynthia B
Date: Monday, August 12, 2002 11:56:54 AM
To: PowerLunch@CNBC.com
Subject: "Martha's Mess"

I have never been a fan of Martha Stewart. I simply didn't like her or her "style" in colors and fabrics. I always thought they were rather cheap looking.

But, nonetheless, since you have decided to attack her because she is a Democrat, I have decided to JOIN HER SIDE. You guys are so transparent. You attack her for being a Democrat, and nothing else, and the "CASE" you are artificially building with the help of your viscous minions in this FAKE FASCIST government, is nothing but a pile of ugly lies just like you piled on Bill Clinton and friends.

Until you put a title out there with the associated investigation, call it "KENNY'S KRAP" and go after ENRON, you have no credibility with me.

Cynthia

Longview WA

Martha,

I watch your show daily and enjoy your receipes.
My birthday is also in August. I just turned 86
years young.

Happy Birthday
Marjorie Hansen
Litchville, N.D.

Dear Congressman,

I am much taken with the time and attention you are concentrating on the Marth Stewart stock transaction of 27 Dec., 01. Are you implying tht the SEC is NOT capable of investigating the sitution? My question is; Will you devote the SAME time and attention to EVERY OTHER seller of ImClone stock on 27 Dec., 01? If not then WHY NOT?

WHO exactly sold those 7 million odd shares? I would suggest that this great nation is in the throes of some very dire economic and monetary forces, the likes of which have NOT been seen in the past 70 odd years. The government of the US CANNOT continue for example to deficit spend FOREVER. The income tax system as currently structured is CHOKING our economy at the very WORST POSSIBLE TIME. Does our government require taxes to operate? Indeed it does. However the current system must be SIMPLIFIED and restructured so as to ENCOURAGE entrapeneurship, the ONLY real source of jobs, wealth creation and TAXES.

The current system DISCOURAGES savings and risk taking, both at the WORST POSSIBLE TIME. Hundreds of jobs are being DESTROYED each and every day and you CANNOT blame THAT on Martha Stewart. Had you ever considered that lower tax RATES might encourage economic activity to the extent that total tax RECEIPTS might increase?

Why don't you devote as much time to overhauling the present tax structure as you seem inclined to devote to the Martha Stewart affair?

Thank you.

Bert Solomon

Dear Congressman,

It's my understanding that 7,730,200 shares of ImClone stock were traded on 12/27/2001, and that you are spending an awful lot of time and taxpayer money to investigate the sale of 3928 shares by Martha Stewart. Will you be investigating all the other sales as insider trades? I also understand that the FDA did not issue its official rejection notification to ImClone until 12/28. It appears that if Imclone and Martha Stewart got word of the rejection a day early, someone at the FDA should also be investigated for leaking information.

Surely you folks have more important things to do than chase after e-mails, phone records and goodness knows what else over a piddly 3928 shares out of nearly 8 million!

I just love to see how y'all spend taxpayer money!

Sincerely,

Grace K. B. Smith

Dear Congressman,
I have never seen such an unorganized group of jackasses in my entire life. Every one of you act as if martha Stewart was Public Enemy Number One. What she did is nothing short of useing a little common sense. I too would pull my money out and save a few bucks no matter what the source of information if I deemed it credible. You know you would do the same. I am continually amaized and ashamed of the leadership we have in this country. Belive me, my voting reflects that. Your day will come and good riddance. Martha's nothing but a scapegoat. Get real and go get the bad guys...

Dear Congressman,

I find it shameful that congress disproportionately targets famous people for its attentions. It is understandable that these people receive the spotlight of the media, but forgive me if I hold the United States Government to a higher standard.

A worthy cause should not need Julia Roberts to get the attention of our elected officials. And why is Martha Stewart being crucified when it is common knowledge that all New York insiders receive tons of gossip and information about stock values all the time?

No wonder everyone believed the Onion story about the house threatening to leave Washington unless a new Capitol was built. You people are publicity freaks and you are no better than Traficant. At least he was amusing.

May you all feel the smarting SHAME of your folly.


Yours Truly,

Theresa Brandabur

Dear Congressman,

Shame on you fat cats. Martha should be left alone to do what she does best... Giving women the advantage of being good at what women do. . . Why don't you go after the big guys, Georgie Bush and Dickey Chaney. You should get your idiotic self out of the way and turn the criminals over to a group of WOMEN. YOU SHOULD ALL VACATE THE WHITE HOUSE AND PUT IT INTO THE CARE OF FEMALES LIKE HILLARY.

You make me sick. A quarter of a million dollars? Big deal. What about the billions the old fat guys spent? What about the top floors where the Arabs are taken care of with no thought of care about children and women in the good old US of A and all over the globe.

Martha gave me hope and happiness. You old farts make me sick. Capitol hill is a hell hole full of idiots like Bob Barr and other indigents. Why don't you tell the American People what all those little room are for and why don't you tell the American People what Benjamin Franklin was about? Founding Fathers, my ass.

THAT'S WHAT I THINK AND I AM SMART. I KNOW HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH. DO YOU???? LEAVE MARTHA STEWART ALONE. SHE IS SO GOOD AT MAKING A HOME. WE HAVE NO HOMES ANYMORE IN THIS PLACE. WHY DON'T YOU INVESTIGATE THE JERKS WHO ARE MAKING OUR COUNTRY A VAST PLACE OF IDIOCY. I AM ANGRY. I AM A WRITER AND YOU MAKE ME SICK. ENERGY? MY ENERGY BILL IS RIDICULOUS. I WISH YOU WOULD ALL CROAK. PERIOD.

Myra Fairchild

Dear Congressman,

Will you please stop the waste of taxpayers monies on this frivolous investigation of Martha Stewart. Our country has big problems you should be tending to. Shouldn't you be helping our economy and trade instead of messing with Martha?
Get a life! You're looking pathetic. I know you must have better things to do. So DO IT....

K. Vance, Auburn, CA

Dear Congressman,

The customer of a broker should not be accused of insider trading. If someone, even my broker, gave me a tip, I would certainly act on it. That's exactly what Martha Stewart did.

As a taxpayer, I'm appalled at the amount of time and money that is being used to investigate Ms. Stewart. Please use my money wisely by going after the BIG dogs.

Thank you,
Anne Goss
Calhoun, GA

Dear Congressman,

Please, please, please STOP wasting my tax dollars on Martha. A more appropriate course would be putting Ken Lay in jail. sincerely,

PW Deem

Dear Congressman,
Why all the high-voltage publicity to strike Martha Stewart down? Martha Stewart is an American treasure. Every venture that she touches involves improving the American economy on every level. She has generated interest in every field imaginable and is the mother of "How To Do It Yourself - the right way and with style and class." She should be allowed her day in court but why the WITCH HUNT??? Are you going to burn her at the stake when you're done??? Would you rather have women represented by Anna Nicole Smith and then the male population wouldn't have any competition??? Now, now, let's act civil, little (congress)man.

Paula Brainard

Dear Congressman,

I fail to understand your what your time and effort is in that what you are currently doing and the manner and way in which the investigation is being approached or will amount to?? In reference to what you are requesting (I have read your letter to Ms Stewart and its parent Co.) from a private individual, who chose to invest some of her well earned monies into the stock market; in essence seems to me a mute point and also infringes on her individual
(citizen's) 'rights' as outlined in the Constitution of the U. S. of America. Is there a "law" against (investing as millions do) doing what she did in the U.S.? I think not!

I ask the following question to any of you representatives, whom we have elected to serve our best needs and not "gobble de gook" rumors spread because of our stupid "press" members from TV and newspapers, who have nothing else to do! Why do you pick on one individual named Martha Stewart- Living? How many of you have ever bought stocks (before now) and on the advice of a consultant or a broker, then placed a sell order(type)on your investments and made money on the transaction? Who is monitoring you members of Congress; when you do such activity? No one is, are they?

Is any member of this self appointed- Congressional Committee; who is involved in making this investigation, can you honestly (swear on the Bible) and to tell me that you have never, ever been involved with any situation similar to the above, where you turned your head and did not look the other way? I'll bet, no one can! If so, stand up and tell me by answering this e mail, so I can hear you, "loud and clear" that you have never, ever done such thing as what I described and shown above to you, ALL!(?)

Congressional members of Congress. You've got alot more things to be worried or concerned about than wasting your time on Martha Stewart. You all better damn well be concerned, right now, and not tomorrow when it is too late; about what our President and his staff of Generals are about to commemce to do (without even Congresse's approval for a declaration of declared War; i.e., when Mr. President blows the whistle to march forward into Iraq with the purpose of killing Sadam Hussien. That my friends in Congress, is what you jolly well better be 50 times more concerned about and of the consequences that will happen when it is done and how it will affect the U.S. worldwide. This is very serious, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I welcome a reply from anyone on this committee.Thank you for your time!

Respectfully yours,

Thomas P. Cheesborough

Florida

Why is it so hard to believe that Martha didn't have a standing sell order? Do they think she is stupid enough to hold onto a loser? That's not how she got to be rich & famous folks. Hard work & smart decisions got her where she "was" . . . I'm gonna buy Martha stock just because I think the whole thing stinks to high heavens!

Karen

Dear Congressman,

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 think it is about time Congress and the media went after some of the real big wigs in all this mess, namely the corporate officers of Enron, WorldCom, and any of the other big corporations involved in STEALING money from their companies, making themselves richer than rich, and leaving all their workers without their hard earned pension money.
Martha may not have done the right thing here, but how is she different from these thieves...in fact, she is better, because she did not steal from innocent people. It is my belief that in order to take attention away from these big thieves everyone is coming down on Martha. Please, give the public a break...we are all certainly smarter than you think! Stop wasting your time and our tax dollars and go after the big fish

Tillie Sklar

Dear Congressman,

If you think Martha Stewart has done something so unlawful that it's compelling to send her to prison, then continue to investigate, interregate, & whatever you need to do to send her away. However, it's my opinion that she is small fish compared to what everyone on up the line did, starting with the FDA! Yes, I said the FDA. If anyone needs investigating, let's start there. And, while you are doing it you may want to visit The Clinton's closet. From what I'm hearing now is that most of the year 2000 was a downturn & someone fudged the books to make it look rosey. So, please do us all a favor & investigate yourselves. Give Martha a break unless you know she has committed a crime. I should hope you have more important things to dwell on, like getting some judges approved! And, stop grandstanding! Thanks for your indulgence in reading this & taking it seriously!

Dorothy L. Hignite

Dear Robert Novak,

Thank you for your defense of Martha Stewart. I am very annoyed that congress is wasting my tax dollars on this. I guess they are afraid to go after the real bad guys have to pick on an easier target in order to fool us into thinking they are actually doing their job. Don't they know the American people are not fools and won't fall for the ,"Hey look over there" trick!

Teresa M.

Dear Congressman,

With all the corporate scams, bankruptcies, etc., that have gone on this year, I CANNOT believe that so much attention, both media and congressional, has been aimed at Martha Stewart. Why isn't the CEO of Enron being looked at further? Why not the CEO of WorldCom? Why aren't you guys grilling Dick Cheney about his old company? Martha sold some stock. Big deal. Good for her -- she made some money. I don't make enough to buy stock, and I damn sure don't make enough for you guys in Congress to WASTE MY MONEY chasing after old Martha. Leave her alone. Go after the guy who supposedly gave her the information. I heard he's being offered immunity. Well that's just great. Go after the REAL CRIMINALS!!

Dear Congressman,

I'm rather appalled that you would ignore the billions of dollars which have been stolen by starchy white collar business-thieves and waste energy persecuting MArtha Stewart for a minor transgression. She did not bankrupt thousands of people and leave elderly folks with no savings and no way to start rebuilding their financial situations.

Get off the persecution bandwagon and start prosecuting real criminals.

Sidney Conn
Mooresville NC

Dear K-Mart,

The sole and entire reason that I have returned to K-Mart post bankruptcy is that you are still partners with Martha Stewart. Please don't drop her product line as I shop all my disposable income at your store precisely because you have been loyal to her and she has been loyal to you. One of your employees at the Garden Center in the Sahara Avenue Las Vegas store said that Martha had a seat on the exchange and should have known better. That employee a man and others like that ought not to express any negative opinion about this lady while wearing the kmart uniform.
I was totally shocked at that. I spend about 150 every two weeks at K-Mart to help you get through this bk and because you are pushing Martha. Her tv show is virtually my main reason for happiness in my life. Please ask President Bush to give the nice lady a pardon right away. Her name mustn't be abused. She has helped me and too many people to live better lives. I am going to order four additional subscriptions to her magazine tomorrow and if she gets into legal trouble, our system needs an overhaul. She has too much redeeming social merit to be not given an immediate pardon and sealing of this investigation. Enough!

M. Sullivan

Dear Save Martha,

I cannot imagine a world without Martha Stewart. She has become so entrenched in North American culture that the name "Martha" has become synonymous with yearned-for perfection and good taste. How often have you heard someone say, "Oh, that's SO Martha!" when they ogle a perfectly-appointed dining room table.

I feel for Martha and sincerely hope that she finds her way out of this mess with relative ease. I think she has been unfairly vilified in the past, mainly by men who just don't understand the concept of a multi-million dollar businesswoman who makes jam and fluffs pillows while millions of North Americans look on in amazement.

Speaking as a man, and long-time fan of Martha Stewart, I would like to apologize for those members of my sex who find it necessary to belittle and betray women with negativity and a general lack of respect. There is most definitely a double standard at work where Martha Stewart is concerned. She is more or less the only self-made, million-dollar businesswoman on Wall Street (worth over $500 million) and certainly the one with the highest profile. As such, she is an easy target for jealous hogs in Armani suits who would rather berate her than congratulate her.

Christopher Byron's rude and demeaning biography of Martha Stewart ("Martha Inc.") is a prime example. I have read this book and found his insights into her business to be very interesting and thorough, but he lost all credibility when he began to psychoanalyze her and conjure up unfounded psychiatric conclusions about her reasons for doing things, suggesting that her entire empire is built around her hatred for her father and a longing for things she didn't have growing up in Nutley, N.J. It seems far-reaching to the point of foolishness. It also seems to me to be a direct attempt to undermine her efforts as a businesswoman, rooting her business sense in a little girl's naive fantasies of Nancy Drew happiness and pastel perfection. The whole thing was insulting, demeaning and patronizing.

I wish Martha all the best. She is supreme and I will surely miss her if this trouble escalates beyond reasonable limits. I support Martha Stewart and will continue to do so, through thick and thin.

Andrew Ritchie
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada

Dear Save Martha,

Thank you for your save martha campaign.

The facts you listed re how much the company lost, makes me sick!!!

What's the difference between the terrorists who destroyed two buildings and killed 3,000 people so easily, and the media who can destroy a company with thousands of employees, so easily? Just by keeping a half-truth going like a snowball. The only truth in all of this was the broker sold her stock, and everything else, pages & pages & pages is hype. They don't care. How sad.

I hope Martha will be vindicated soon, and we can all get back to all the good things she, and her company, have to offer.

Thank you.