Friday, August 06, 2004
Don't forget smaller papers
This week's Media Corps assignment is to explain to your local papers that Bush is right-- "Results matter"--and that's why you're supporting John Kerry. As I was thinking about writing my letter, it occurred to me that I ought to hit some of the smaller papers in the central Ohio media market, particularly those free community papers that don't get a lot of letters.
And since a letter is more likely to be printed if it's written in response to a specific article, I chose to springboard off a column that appeared in today's ThisWeek newspaper. The results are below. I already sent the first letter; the second one is going out under a pseudonym.
Try your hand at your own letter. Email ThisWeek's editor. (If you're looking for facts and figures, go here or here.
------------First letter----------
To the ThisWeek Editor:
In today's column ("It's the right time to turn to Twain"), Kevin Parks observes the saturation of campaign ads with their "accusing and unpleasant voices telling me how truly awful is the opponent of the candidate they're promoting."
At the risk of sounding accusing and unpleasant, I'd like to point out that those attack ads are only coming from one of the Presidential candidates. And he's spending a lot of money doing so. As USA Today reported in May, the Bush-Cheney campaign has spent nearly two-thirds of its ad budget on negative attacks.
Worse, the attacks are often factually wrong. The Washington Post ran a front-page story noting Bush's "Unprecedented Negativity: Scholars Say Campaign Is Making History With Often-Misleading Attacks."
Meanwhile, the Kerry campaign has taken a break from television ads entirely, preferring instead to concentrate on its coast-to-coast tour. So far, it looks like John Kerry is following the mandate he set for himself in Boston: "Republicans and Democrats must make this election a contest of big ideas, not small-minded attacks."
Here's hoping Kerry continues to take that high road. Maybe Bush will follow his example, for all of our sakes.
JB Lawton III
Dublin
------Second letter----------
To the Editor:
With all due respect to Mark Twain and Kevin Parks (ThisWeek, Aug 5, "It's the right time to turn to Twain"), not all of us interested in politics think our opponents are insane.
I don't think George W. Bush and the Republicans are insane. I think they are well-meaning individuals trying to do the right thing.
But after four years of one-party rule in Washington (and twelve years in Ohio), it would be insane to ignore the reality that the Republican approach isn't working. Let's look at the facts:
In 2000, the United States had a $5.6 trillion surplus; now we're facing a $3 trillion deficit, with no end in sight.
Since Bush took office, there has been a net loss of jobs, the first time that’s happened since Hoover was President Ohio alone has lost nearly 250,000 jobs.
Republican tax reform hasn’t worked either, particularly for the middle class, which has gotten squeezed. Five years ago, Ohio ranked 15th in the nation in overall tax burden. Now, we’re ranked 3rd.
I'm not going to vote for Kerry because I hate Bush. I'm voting for Kerry because I hate what Bush's policies have done. Things need to change.
Sincerely,
[Pseudonym]
And since a letter is more likely to be printed if it's written in response to a specific article, I chose to springboard off a column that appeared in today's ThisWeek newspaper. The results are below. I already sent the first letter; the second one is going out under a pseudonym.
Try your hand at your own letter. Email ThisWeek's editor. (If you're looking for facts and figures, go here or here.
------------First letter----------
To the ThisWeek Editor:
In today's column ("It's the right time to turn to Twain"), Kevin Parks observes the saturation of campaign ads with their "accusing and unpleasant voices telling me how truly awful is the opponent of the candidate they're promoting."
At the risk of sounding accusing and unpleasant, I'd like to point out that those attack ads are only coming from one of the Presidential candidates. And he's spending a lot of money doing so. As USA Today reported in May, the Bush-Cheney campaign has spent nearly two-thirds of its ad budget on negative attacks.
Worse, the attacks are often factually wrong. The Washington Post ran a front-page story noting Bush's "Unprecedented Negativity: Scholars Say Campaign Is Making History With Often-Misleading Attacks."
Meanwhile, the Kerry campaign has taken a break from television ads entirely, preferring instead to concentrate on its coast-to-coast tour. So far, it looks like John Kerry is following the mandate he set for himself in Boston: "Republicans and Democrats must make this election a contest of big ideas, not small-minded attacks."
Here's hoping Kerry continues to take that high road. Maybe Bush will follow his example, for all of our sakes.
JB Lawton III
Dublin
------Second letter----------
To the Editor:
With all due respect to Mark Twain and Kevin Parks (ThisWeek, Aug 5, "It's the right time to turn to Twain"), not all of us interested in politics think our opponents are insane.
I don't think George W. Bush and the Republicans are insane. I think they are well-meaning individuals trying to do the right thing.
But after four years of one-party rule in Washington (and twelve years in Ohio), it would be insane to ignore the reality that the Republican approach isn't working. Let's look at the facts:
In 2000, the United States had a $5.6 trillion surplus; now we're facing a $3 trillion deficit, with no end in sight.
Since Bush took office, there has been a net loss of jobs, the first time that’s happened since Hoover was President Ohio alone has lost nearly 250,000 jobs.
Republican tax reform hasn’t worked either, particularly for the middle class, which has gotten squeezed. Five years ago, Ohio ranked 15th in the nation in overall tax burden. Now, we’re ranked 3rd.
I'm not going to vote for Kerry because I hate Bush. I'm voting for Kerry because I hate what Bush's policies have done. Things need to change.
Sincerely,
[Pseudonym]