Writer Blasts Coverage Of D.C. Protests

By: | TriCities.com
Published: September 17, 2009

The Sept. 12 edition of the Bristol Herald Courier carried a front page article by Debra McCown on local participation in the Tea Party March in Washington, D.C. The article was accompanied by two photos of “members” of the something called the Tenth Amendment Foundation.
Reading what purported to be a news article about the protest, I discovered what was not apparent from the caption of the photos. The lady identified in the photo caption only as Linda Moon turns out to also be chair of the Republican Party of Johnson County, Tenn. One can only wonder if Ms. Moon’s status as party flak for the people unwilling/unable to admit who lost the 2008 election might have something to do with her “protest.”
In the middle of the so-called news article, I also found the following paragraph disguised as fact: “A major issue with these folks is health care, and many of them are the very sort who would appear to be targeted by the promises of reform: senior citizens some with visible health problems.”
As an editing issue, it is totally unclear what exactly McCown intended by referring to senior citizens being “targeted by the promises of reform.” In the context of recent crazed and untrue allegations concerning “death panels,” it seemed possible that was what she is talking about. If that is what she meant, she, her editor, and your newspaper should be ashamed.
On the other hand, the other possibility is that McCown meant an innocent use of the word “targeted” i.e.: Health reform was intended to benefit senior citizens. The problem here is that this reading makes no sense. Although health care reform will indeed benefit the whole country, senior citizens will not be the primary beneficiaries. Thanks to the Medicare program instituted 40 years ago by a Democratic president whom Strother Smith and Ms. Moon no doubt also “protested,” seniors have a “public option” which other parts of the population don’t have. Because of Medicare, seniors have a security on health matters which millions of the uninsured and privately insured lack.
Your paper needs to explain what McCown intended. It may also need to give her lessons on separating fact from fiction; especially including the fictional opinions of foundations designed to promote the anti-democratic agenda of radical wingnuts.

Hugh F. O’Donnell
St. Paul, Va.

Writer Blasts Coverage Of D.C. Protests

Share This:

More from this channel:

Reader Comments

Deal of the Day

Most Popular

Things to Do