From the Times-Union editorial board: ... Columnist Ron Littlepage, in his opinion column, criticized Brown's lawsuit and asked, rhetorically, what she has accomplished in her 17 years in Congress.

Lots of pork for sure - "Corrine delivers," as her campaign slogan said.

But he wrote that she sure hasn't done much to help her largely African-American constituents overcome persistent poverty, unemployment, poor education and crime.

The congresswoman's response? She hired a lawyer!

In a formal letter, he said Littlepage's opinions were "defamatory falsehoods" and demanded "a correction, apology or retraction." Otherwise, he said, Brown would sue for libel.

Somehow, she missed the day in civics class when the teacher described how our representative democracy works:...