My LTE got printed in the newspaper!

[beachmom]

Obviously, for privacy reasons, I won't name WHICH paper (hey Fedup -- go take a look), but here it is:

No fair hearing, just bashing, for the Democrats

I was ready to forgive The xxxxxx for running a frivolous David Brooks column (op-ed April 4) that obsessed over Sen. John Kerry's dietary requirements while on the campaign trail.

But now we see a pattern from your paper of ignoring the very serious plans Democrats are putting forward and then running op-eds to bash these plans.

Case in point: You have now ignored two Democratic plans -- the sweeping Real Security plan and Kerry's ultimatum to the fledgling Iraqi government. Instead, you ran the column by Fred Hiatt (op-ed. April 5) whose goal was clearly to discredit the Real Security plan, which your readers would have known nothing about.

Nor did you choose to report on or run the New York times op-ed piece by Sen. Kerry, which calls for a May 15 deadline to the Iraqi government to get its act together and calls for the withdrawal of combat troops from Iraq by the end of the year.

Regardless of whether people agree or disagree with this plan, the people of Hampton Roads deserve to know that the former presidential candidate, who won every Hampton Roads city save Virginia Beach, has had enough of the Iraq war and put out a plan to get us out of there.

However, I have no doubt that you will be soon running a scathing indictment of Kerry's plan by one of your favorite right-wing columnists, and your readers will continue to believe the lie that the Democrats have no plan and cannot be taken seriously.

Beachmom

They edited it a bit (they deleted out that the May 15th deadline threatened removing all troops, but I won't quibble too much on that), actually making it longer than my original letter and putting it as the FIRST letter. I'm really happy it printed, but now I feel humbled that my letter, and my letter alone, is the ONLY info people have of what Sen. Kerry has said. I hope it helps him, although there may be some Swifties or Swiftie sympathizers living around these parts who may pounce with nasty letters in response.

[babylonsister]

1. Great letter, beachmom!

:yourock: You're edumacating the masses; if anyone attacks, just counteract will more facts. The swifties don't use facts, so they're discredited/you can discredit them to begin with.

[beachmom]

2. There's a 5 month rule on letters

Unlike the blogosphere, you only get to have your opinion shown only every 5 months. If somebody goes really nasty, maybe FedupinBushcountry can write a letter since I don't think she won't be constrained for the next 5 months like I am.

[fedupinBushcountry]

3. EXCELLENT !!!

You go girl !!! :yourock:

I had written one about one of the right wing columnist, and put all the info to the true facts in mine. I think you noted that they had published another one on the same subject. One question ? Did you mail yours in or do it through the internet ? Either way, I would like to follow up on yours , so maybe you and other Kerrycrats could help in that.

One more thing. Standing O.
:applause: :applause: :applause:

[beachmom]

6. I sent them an e-mail

I figured it made things easier for them, typing wise. Yeah, I think the LTE you wrote was at the same time that someone else wrote one, so that's probably why they didn't publish yours.

Not to brag (but what the heck!!), I am now 3 - 0 with letters I've sent being published to that newspaper. I've carved out a role which I always stick to -- media critic. In one letter I defended journalists reporting from Baghdad, that their reports were based on facts, and were not liberal bias. My second letter was to defend Bill Moyers and PBS against a disingenuous and mean spirited Cal Thomas column (in the words of Colbert, I NAILED him because Cal had APPEARED on Bill Moyers NOW, I found the transcript and quoted him from the show). This third letter, although giving kudos to Kerry is yet another media critique of how the newspaper has shut out Democrats. I think that's why they print my letters; after all, editors of newspapers are more interested in themselves than anything else!

I'll read the paper carefully, and see if we need any follow up. We should wait for the moment, and see how events unfold. With the 5 month rule, I can help contribute but won't be able to send anything.

[MH1]

4. Great letter!

You rock!!!

:yourock:

Seriously I think you nailed it - their failure to report accurately about what the Dems are presenting yet then bashing it: "which your readers would have known nothing about" - ha!

Good job!

:thumbsup:

[ginnyinWI]

5. good work!

Well written; and besides that, you've given the paper's readers a clue that maybe they are not getting the whole story! Which will maybe cause some to start digging for truth.

I wonder how many newspaper readers also read the internet? I know we do here in our family, and the info is usually more complete on the net and you get it sooner. So we read the net daily and the newspapers on weekends, mainly for local news. (The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has a Fri-Sat-Sun subscription plan.)

[ProSense]

7. Excellent! Thanks Beachmom.

A great letter is more exposure, and may even inspire more coverage by this acknowledgment.

[sandnsea]

8. That is terrific!!

Yes it helps him, every little bit helps. Too often we end up with nothing but bashing from Republicans and bashing from the far left, and nothing positive about Democrats at all. Good good stuff Beachmom!

:yourock:

[Mass]

9. Excellent

:yourock:

[_dynamicdems]

10. Congratulations! That is good news.

Good for you. I hope it makes people think. They are obviously getting just one side of the story from that paper.

[Island Blue]

11. Excellent letter Beachmom!

Congratulations! That paper (if it's the one I'm thinking about) has quite a large circulation down here too, btw. I went looking for a copy this afternoon, but there were none too be found. It's also great that it was printed on a Sunday, the largest and probably most widely read issue of the week!

[karynnj]

12. Congratulations - it was a really really good letter

[ray of light]

13. your letter was wonderful!!!

And I hope you will post in the GD about it as well as other sites. I think many could learn from your experiences of success.

(I have been published myself; however, I'm very displeased that they print the LTE's name and city. I have actually gotten mail after my letters were sent.)

[TayTay]

14. I agree Beachmom. Wonderful letter!

You did a great job!

:patriot: :dem:

[jillan]

15. Beachmom -

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

:toast:
Well said - whooooot!