I think I'm going to have to cancel my subscription to my local paper

[beachmom]

On Wednesday, they had the decency not to cover the Kerry non-story. Then, they get all these letters and e-mails from the wingnuts complaining. So the next day, they put it on the front page with the headline, "Kerry apologizes for remarks about the troops" which is a complete fabrication -- the remarks were about Bush. They put ANOTHER article on the front page featuring troops and families of troops who were all mad about it. Then they fail to run the most excellent Tom Friedman column exposing what this was all about, and, of course, didn't run my letter either.

Now for the clincher -- they have a column up APOLOGIZING for not covering the Kerry story on the first day. Apparently, the wackos have them all running scared for not carrying water for BushCo. They are weak kneed and stupid. As it is, I don't read the paper that much, because the internet is more convenient and interesting. I think I will cancel my subscription tomorrow, and rely on the local Virginia blogs for info.

[wisteria]

1. They are trying to associate this non incident with Webb.

They are desperate. Obviously, they are playing politics. I hope Webb pulls this out. I don't want to see kerry blamed for this one. Call the paper and complain.

[blm]

2. Call them and DEMAND they TELL THE TRUTH. Just DEMAND HONEST REPORTING

and ask why they refuse to cover the FACTS of the story and support POLITICAL LIES over the facts?

CALL THEM NOW.

[beachmom]

5. I'm not going to fight it, BLM. It's too late. I sent in an LTE

when it was timely and they chose not to publish it. If I do anything now, it keeps it in the news. I am hoping today is the last day it finds its way in the paper. I feel like we have to follow Kerry's lead, which is to kill this story, even if it means his name remains smeared at the moment. It hurts, but we have to stay focused on '06 now. And John Kerry is not on the ballot anywhere, so it's best to just be quiet about it, and make sure the Congress goes into Democratic hands.

[blm]

6. It was actually about their level of reporting. They are not allowed

to go against journalistic ethics to the extent that they did.

They were deluged with calls by GOP operatives and they bent over to accomodate them in their NEWS SECTION, and then distorted the news so they could feed a perception based in a lie.

I would send them Friedman's column and request they take a good hard look at themselves.

They responded wrongly to GOP operatives' pressure. Tell them you are well aware that is what they did, and tell them it is unethical for a NEWSPAPER to do it.

It's not a matter of defending Kerry, it's about reminding a newspaper that it is supposed to serve the FACTS in its news stories, and support OPINIONS based on facts on its editorial pages.

These call ins work - I know this about newsrooms.

[sandnsea]

3. But you don't live in Houston!!

They've got the exact same thing. What about the fact that it was just a big fat lie and how offended the other half of the country is. Aargh.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/4309812.html

[wisteria]

4. DAMN! And we can do nothing about it because it brings up the

whole kerry situation again. The Dem's painted themselves into a corner on this one. Of course, Kerry will get the blame if we lose in the tight races. I hope we prevail. I am going to say a little prayer now.