Anti-Sheehan editorial in Atlanta gets 50 responses, all pro-Sheehan!

[Modem Butterfly]

Yesterday, a guy named Jimmy Hall wrote a very nasty editorial against Cindy Sheehan in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Here's a link:

http://www.ajc.com/thursday/content/epaper/editions/thursday/opinion_24afff32c45f22b600a1.html

And here's a taste:

This woman is a representative example of typical, illogical anti-war activists. She thinks Bush, not the terrorists, killed her son. She supports those who killed Casey by wanting to pull out and let them kill more innocent people, unhindered. The lady is on the wrong team. She's disgraceful.

Today the Atlanta Journal-Constitution published four pro-Sheehan letters to the editor, and included this note:

Editor's note: None of the more than 50 letters received Thursday morning in response to Jimmy W. Hall's article agreed with him.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/letters/index.html

Edited for second link.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Bam! :^D

[flakey_foont]

2. Smackdown

[NewJeffCT]

anybody from DU write to them?

I hope so....

[Modem Butterfly]

5. My partner and I wrote a letter, but it didn't get published today

Maybe tomorrow?

[NewJeffCT]

12. well, at least you're one of the 50+

good job! Writing LTTEs is very important - it's one method of how the RW has flexed their muscles throughout the past 15 years. It's very effective and lets the editors know where the public really stands. Getting 50 letters in response to one op-ed is a HUGE response.

[CatWoman]

3. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

:rofl:

good find :hi:

and thanks for the DU mail

[Modem Butterfly]

36. :-)

:)

[Not_Giving_Up]

4. Awesome!!!

Smackdown!

[Gabi Hayes]

6. obvious question: who IS this guy? does he have regular space?

are they going to run a large editorial to counter his?

what a POS paper that rag has become

[Modem Butterfly]

10. It was an Op-Ed

It wouldn't surprise me if the AJC ran a counter-editorial. I think they're actually a pretty good paper. I'm really gratified to read that no one who has written in agreed with that asshole yesterday. Remember that the AJC is in the heart of red country.

[tenshi816]

20. I read the AJC online regularly from the UK

because I grew up in Atlanta and it's my hometown paper (well, that and Creative Loafing :D), and it feels good to know that it really is a "fair and balanced" publication. Normally you'd expect something far more RW in such a red state, even given how blue Atlanta is.

What do you think of Jay Bookman? I like him, and especially liked his columns during the Terri Schiavo mess.

[wryter2000]

30. It is a good paper

Cynthia Tucker is based there.

[bunkerbuster1]

45. Mike Lukovich, who drives the local freepers bugshit

is also part of the AJC staff. Great toon today:

[AndyTiedye]

38. Maybe Georiga is Not Really as Red as the Diebold Machines Make It Appear

[bunkerbuster1]

42. It's hard for me to imagine all the "support the troops" magnets

that I see around here, phony as it may seem (and all to often paired with some kinda Reep regalia) can find it in their hearts to join in the smearing.

While I can count on plenty of stupid reactionary RW bullshit in the AJC, this non-support doesn't really surprise me all that much.

Chimpy is really fucking up big time here, and his handlers have bitten off more than they can chew. They thought they could smear ANYONE about ANYTHING, and boy howdy, maybe they can't after all.

[CottonBear]

49. A lot of GA troops have been killed and injured in Iraq.

My friend Kenji just got back from Tikrit, Iraq at the beginning of the year and will probably be redeployed to Afghanistan soon.

:scared: He served as a sergeant at an ammunition depot in Tikrit.
I am so glad he made it home safe and sound.

[CottonBear]

46. It's very purple with blue cities like Atlanta and Athens.

I live in Athens. Many of the Republicans (who used to be old style Dixiecrats) just switched parties fairly recently (last 4-8 years). I think that the conservative Christian movement coupled with simmering racism and bigotry was the cause of the shift. It couldn't have been the economy and the environment (much better when we were run by Democrats)or the primary/secondary educational system (consistently ranked near the bottom of all the states.)

[dxstone]

39. I dunno... sounds like they did the right thing to me...

They didn't HAVE to print the fact that 50 responses were all in disagreement with the original editorialist; they didn't have to print any of those letters that disagreed.
Look at all the publications and other MSM that DON'T let us know what's really goin' on.
Never saw this paper, but it sounds like a good one to me.
d

[dxstone]

41. ps:

It gives one the definite impression that, as Jim Morrison said, they've got the guns, but we've got the numbers...

[Modem Butterfly]

44. I think they were concerned about the accusation of media bias.

[bunkerbuster1]

50. Nah, nobody in the Atlanta metro area accuses the AJC of liberal bias

...more often than six, seven times a day...

[dxstone]

56. Yes, but if they didn't publish ANY of the responses, no one would know...

On the other hand, I know nothing of the periodical in question, and from the sound of other posters here, I take it that it IS a nominally fundy rag at best...
So I see your point... too, perhaps they see that the tide is turning so hard against them on this one, they'd best get in line...
Either way, I'm happy!
d

[swimmernsecretsea]

7. Special Delivery!

Here's you ass handed back to you. Sign here, please!

:rofl:

[goodboy]

8. I gotta recommend this thread. AWESOME! (nt)

[Imalittleteapot]

9. Jimmy Hall is one of those

GWB compassionate conservatives.

Thanks Atlanta letter writers for setting Jimmy straight.

:yourock:

[back2basics909]

11. Good catch..

.. thanks for posting. That letter really hits the mark, it must be somebody active in blogs... if not EVEN BETTER!

[Modem Butterfly]

13. The AJC has a discussion board about Cindy Sheehan

If you're registered, check it out. Not many people are opposed to her.

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/custom/blogs/opiniontalk/entries/2005/08/10/cindy_sheehan.html

[meganmonkey]

14. That editor's note is beauuuuuuutiful!

I love it

:7

[K8-EEE]

15. WHOA!!!! THAT'S GREAT!

Thanks for posting this...

[steve2470]

16. That is wonderful, from another fundy epicenter ! nt

[CottonBear]

32. Actually, the City of Atlanta is blue as blue can be.

It's the suburbs that are red. Surprisingly, the published letter writers are all from cities other than Atlanta: Duluth (home of the runaway bride), Alpharetta (very wealthy and red), Fayetville (conservative and red) and Marietta (Cobb County where they opposed gays during the Olympics). I think that Atlanta suburbs are more purple than red and it shows in these letters.
:)

[Modem Butterfly]

33. Either that, or the cons are coming to their sense

You would have to be a hardcore kool-aid drinker with a blindfold on and your hands covering your ears to not see what's happening with the war.

[CottonBear]

40. I think the Republican masses may be coming to their senses.

Mr. CottonBear and I have noticed fewer W stickers and magnetic ribbons lately. This in in the last two months. :)

Before that, especially in very white, conservative Oconee county (adjacent to blue Athens-Clarke County), vehicles were covered with the stickers and ribbons.

Of course there's still the small percentage of idiots that will support Bu$h no matter what. :(

[Modem Butterfly]

43. Our VP of Finance was a life-long Republican until 2003

He voted Kerry last time. He told me the other day that he was never going to vote Repug again.

[Miss Chybil]

17. Absolutely perfect.

:kick:

[melissinha]

18. Best one, worth reading again

Mother has right to question conflict

Jimmy W. Hall's demonizing of Cindy Sheehan demonstrates a profound misunderstanding of citizens' rights in a democracy and in the rich tradition in U.S. political thought of questioning our political leadership.

Sheehan and all Americans have the right to question our continued aggression in Iraq. As the tissues of lies and hysteria used to justify our invasion are peeled away, we are left with a disturbing vision of the true motivations of President Bush and his neocon advisers for attacking Iraq. There were no WMDs, no nuclear program, no links to al-Qaida and certainly no threat to the United States. Instead there were only neocon delusions of grandeur and the political advantages of being a "war president." Under such circumstances, questioning this war is not only a right, it is an obligation.

If patriotism is indeed the last refuge of the scoundrel, the supporters of this war are becoming desperate. Theirs is an ugly form of patriotism based on character assassination of those who disagree with them and a disturbing authoritarianism where political leadership is above reproach.

ROBERT H. RATH, Marietta


and of course let re-emphasize what the editor saw fit to post and the poster of this thread noted:
Editor's note: None of the more than 50 letters received Thursday morning in response to Jimmy W. Hall's article agreed with him.

[CottonBear]

19. Of the 50 letters in response, no one agreed with him.

I hope that Mr. Hall crawls back under the rock from which he slithered.

Good work ModemButterfly. Thanks for being one of the fifty!
*****************************************************************
One of my favorite letters:

http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/letters/index.html
Parent has made ultimate sacrifice

As I read Jimmy W. Hall's article, I felt my blood boil. How dare he sit in the comfort of his home and besmirch the patriotism of Cindy Sheehan, who has made the ultimate sacrifice for President Bush's ill-conceived war.

Why aren't more Americans standing up and asking Bush to be accountable? Or if they truly support the president, why aren't more Americans (at least the 51 percent who voted for him) enlisting in the armed services to show that support?

Sheehan may be on the "wrong team," but I don't see Hall on any team at all. If he truly supports this war, this president and our troops, I suggest he march his self-righteous butt down to the nearest recruiting center and sign up.

SUSAN STEWART, Fayetteville

[malmapus]

29. WOOT Fayetteville, my home town =D

Glad to see response from there!

[grytpype]

55. Love it!

When are the remaining Bush supporters going to realize they are the MINORITY now? And shrinking fast!

[nookiemonster]

21. A little humor. This is an anti post. FR would be proud.

By michael wieczorek

August 11, 2005 11:41 PM | Link to this

reading all these comments wow, thank god for all the men and woman in uniform iwill serve again and again, we are failing our forfathers dearly.Wake up america our enemy is gaining on us,so early you forget sept.11 where many of my brothers and sisters have died.THey attacked us, and if you dont think iraq supported terrorists wake up ,remember all them roage country`s celebrating in the streets!!!!!!1

Just wondering, what the fuck is a roage country? This spelling deficit thing is really becoming an epidemic with these folks.

silly ajc freeper wannabes

:silly:

[sinkingfeeling]

22. Glad to see people are responding to this 'columnist'. I posted

this mess in Editorials this morning and only got 4 responses.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=146534&mesg_id=146534

[wryter2000]

23. Woohoo!

:yourock: Atlanta.

:woohoo:

[AuntieM1957]

24. The Houston Chronicle Supports Cindy!

Here's a link to my earlier post today.

They compared her to Rosa Parks - an exciting example of American Democracy!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=146516&mesg_id=146516

More proof Texas ain't Bush Country anymore!

[frictionlessO]

25. Go fuck yerself Jimmy Hall!

You go fuck yerself with a big thick piece of brush that your false idol lil' boots cleared off his ranch. Im sure it'll smell as bad as his lies when you're done with it... no worries though cause it can never smell as bad as the stench of death and destruction that hangs over Iraq.

Yep... go fuck yourself.

[malmapus]

26. BURN!!!!

Wow, two for two this week with mails hehe. I also had my mom write in (she lives south of Atlanta).

:patriot:

[FreedomAngel82]

27. Awesome!

Yay!

[wryter2000]

28. You rock, Susan Stewart

Sheehan may be on the "wrong team," but I don't see Hall on any team at all. If he truly supports this war, this president and our troops, I suggest he march his self-righteous butt down to the nearest recruiting center and sign up.

SUSAN STEWART, Fayetteville

[Chichiri]

31. Talk about being put in one's place. Take that, motherfreepers!

[MADem]

34. NO ONE appreciates ANYONE beating up on a GOLD STAR MOTHER

It just IS NOT DONE.

The RW efforts at demonization have failed miserably. They misjudged this one HORRIBLY--as soulless dickheads are wont to do.

You just don't beat up MOMS who have lost children, especially the Gold Star Moms.

Hell, what will they go after next? Apple Pie???

[Kerrytravelers]

35. We should all carry enlistment forms with us.

I do. I'm prepared for the fist member of the 101st Keyboard Brigade to start shit. Here's the enlistment forms baby, talk is cheap, enlistment is priceless.

Now, I wouldn't suggest tossing one to someone nuless you know for sure they're not on Active Duty.



Military Enlistment PDF forms:

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/infomgt/forms/eforms/dd0004.pdf

[txindy]

37. Smackdown!

Ain't it beautiful! :patriot:

[corkhead]

47. "Editor's note" sounds like a call to arms to freeper types

watch for "50 letters" supporting Hall in tomorrow's paper from bushbots

[Modem Butterfly]

48. I doubt it

I think the AJC is covering their butts WRT accusations of media bias. They can't very well post any letters agreeing with Jimmy Hall if they didn't receive any.

[corkhead]

51. I hope you are right but

I can imagine there being a thread in the satanic parallel universe that is the photographic negative image of this one telling their minions to send send send...

[MADem]

52. The way to handle that is to continue to write letters to them

...in support of Ms. Sheehan. If they want to be credible, they've gotta cut the cloth according to the measure, and 'represent' or at least attempt to represent, the percentages of letters received, pro and con.

[Nothing Without Hope]

53. I think this is an indication that the standard Bushie smear job on Cindy

might well backfire on them worse than they can imagine. And wouldn't that be lovely.

In the meantime, read the strong positive articles on Cindy Sheehan in the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times (the same Maureen Dowd column also ran under a different title in the Houston Chronicle and who knows where else). The LA Times article was very prominent and a long article that was classified as US NEWS, not an op/ed by a designated "liberal." Both the NYT and the LAT articles are well worth reading. You'll love the Maureen Dowd editorial on Cindy.

Here's a thread with the LA Times article in the opening post and links to other articles, including the NYT one, in the replies:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2000891
Thread title: LA Times:"Mother's Protest at Bush's Doorstep Raises the Stakes" GOOD!!!

The Wash Post article on Sheehan (also linked to in that thread) is so-so, but not an outright attack like the Atlanta one.

So overall, looks like tht Atlanta writer is in a minority. We should write more letters to that editor and make sure that the freepers can't change that situation.

Thanks for this.

[Nothing Without Hope]

54. I think this is an indication that the standard Bushie smear job on Cindy

might well backfire on them worse than they can imagine. And wouldn't that be lovely.

In the meantime, read the strong positive articles on Cindy Sheehan in the Los Angeles Times and the New York Times (the same Maureen Dowd column also ran under a different title in the Houston Chronicle and who knows where else). The LA Times article was very prominent and a long article that was classified as US NEWS, not an op/ed by a designated "liberal." Both the NYT and the LAT articles are well worth reading. You'll love the Maureen Dowd editorial on Cindy.

Here's a thread with the LA Times article in the opening post and links to other articles, including the NYT one, in the replies:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2000891
Thread title: LA Times:"Mother's Protest at Bush's Doorstep Raises the Stakes" GOOD!!!

The Wash Post article on Sheehan (also linked to in that thread) is so-so, but not an outright attack like the Atlanta one.

And then there are the editorial cartoons. There's this magnificent one from Oliphant - my favorite of the batch, but not the only one with this kind of theme. Bushie-Boy does not look good!
(Image may take a few seconds to display)

http://www.allhatnocattle.net.nyud.net:8090/ol8115.jpg

So overall, looks like tht Atlanta writer is in a minority. We should write more letters to that editor and make sure that the freepers can't change that situation.

Thanks for this, Butterfly.