Why I no longer read my local newspaper

I can’t watch TV news (except for Keith Olberman) or read most newspapers anymore. My blood pressure is already sky-high and just can’t take any more crap. I no longer read my local hometown rag, even. Because this is the editorial cartoon they run the day after an overwhelmingly Democratic election:

Here’s the letter to the editor I sent:

Thank you so much for continuing the divisive policies of your editorial
cartoons. it was a great reminder of why I never bother reading your Poway Chieftain paper.

With the country overwhelmingly going Democratic in this election, it’s
really distasteful and rude to see Democrats compared to suicide bombers. Obviously, most people want things to change, and we no longer want to be divided from our neighbors and friends by this kind of inappropriate “humor”.

Of course, you are free to print whatever viewpoints and cartoons you
like, that’s the point of our country. But I thought you might want to
know, and perhaps local advertisers might want to know, why over 6,000 Democratic citizens of Poway choose not to read your newspaper, view your advertisers’ advertisements, and are generally tired of the trash in their driveways, as I was today picking up the paper and seeing this offensive bit of one more Republican jab at those who now control our house and senate.

Wake up – it’s not 9/11. It’s 2006, and after six years of stagnant
thought and divisive rhetoric, it is finally a new, American century – the
real one, in reality land, not the PNAC fantasies of the neocons.

I was a local precinct inspector in Poway Tuesday, and VERY proud of my three high school volunteers, who know what being an American and patriotically serving their country without partisanship is truly about.

__________________________

The editor’s reply:

From: Steve Dreyer
To: donna
Subject: Re: Your November 9th editorial cartoon

First, thanks for taking the time to write. I have question and a comment …

Was this intended as a rant directly only at me, or would you like it published as a letter to the editor?

The cartoon was drawn by Poway resident Dick Kemplin, who has been our political cartoonist for over 20 years. (He has won numerious professional awards for his work). Anyone who has read the News Chieftain for a while knows that Dick is very conservative. When Dick’s cartoon arrived late last week I thought to myself, “Damn, Dick, that’s a little harsh.” He and I don’t always agree on the viewpoint he presents, but I run them anyway since the cartoon is an expression of HIS opinion, not that of myself or the owner of the newspaper. Political cartoons, like letters to the editor, Viewpoints and Street Beat, represent views of our readers. The only place on the Opinion page where the owner’s view is expressed is the editorial, which appears from time to time and is clearly marked as such.

Would I run political cartoons expessing other points of view? Sure, but very few of those cross my desk (I can think of only two in the 13 years i’ve been here.) I run all letters – even ones that attack this newspaper – and am always looking for differing opinions by columnists. (I recently ran a series of “New Voices” tryouts, several of which expressed more liberal views.)

It’s certainly your right to be unhappy with this newspaper and I would hate to lose you as a reader. But the Opinion page is just that — a page of opinions.

Steve Dreyer
Executive Editor
Pomerado Newspaper Group

_______________

And my reply:

That wasn’t an opinion. That was equating Democrats, or anyone who voted for them, with terrorists. That isn’t an opinion, it’s slander and libel.

I think your cartoonist needs to be retired.

And I don’t read your paper, for this very reason. I’ve cancelled my San Diego UT and LA Times subscriptions for similar reasons.

There is a distinct difference between “free speech” and encouraging
others to think of opposing viewpoints as so radical that they must be
thought of as hating America or wanting terrorists to succeed. It leads to the kind of divisive idiocy we’ve heard so much of from Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, and so many other conservative mouthpieces.

And of course I want my letter published. I know plenty of people in
Poway, like my neighbors across the street, that feel exactly as I do
about your paper and about this cartoon.

Free speech is fine – I don’t object to the cartoon per se. I object to
the fact that you choose to continue publishing hate.