Love-Hate Mail
The house organ breathes fire
Mark J. Downton wrote to the Scene (“Love/Hate Mail,” Aug. 16) hoping in vain the paper would “report fairly and in good humor on both [mayoral] candidates” instead of the “free pass” it’s been giving Karl Dean while attacking Bob Clement, and Richard McLaurin (“Love/Hate Mail,” Aug. 23) rightly condemns the “sophomoric and adolescent attempt at election coverage” by Jeff Woods.
Woods is merely the grinder for the house organ the paper has become for the Dean campaign. And I wonder if Downton or McLaurin knows that Scene editor Liz Garrigan’s husband works for current Mayor Bill Purcell? Or that Mrs. Garrigan, a Republican wannabe pundit, by genetic nature must oppose a prominent Democrat like Clement?
The
accomplishments of Bob Clement in Congress and throughout his
career—while Dean was busy enforcing a 3-foot dance rule in strip clubs
at great taxpayer expense—seem lost on much of the “establishment” and
their media darlings. But the difference between a leader and a lawyer
is vision, not the back-room loyalties to current courthouse crowds.
CARTER MOODY
darkhorse_37212@yahoo.com (Nashville)
Actually, you’re reading a magazine
As a newcomer to Nashville, I am very excited about the mayoral election. As much as I love my adopted hometown, I do see room for improvement. It was with much anticipation that I began to read your profiles on Bob Clement and Karl Dean (“Round Two,” Aug. 30). I was shocked and outraged by the difference between the two articles. The Karl Dean piece was well written and informative. The Bob Clement article, on the other hand, was an outright attack, criticizing Mr. Clement on everything from his accent to his family.
What is the Nashville Scene? Am I reading a newspaper or a gossip rag? Did I miss something? Was this an editorial? Any credible newspaper should embrace the true spirit of journalism—report the facts and let readers form their own opinions.
As a reminder, here are two very relevant points from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics.
Journalists should:
— Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.
— Examine their own cultural values and avoid imposing those values on others.
MEREDITH BELL
meredith.scarbrough@comcast.net (Nashville)
Your check’s in the mail
Your mean-spirited game of Six Degrees of Separation to Bob Clement (“See Bob Run,” Aug. 30) failed even journalistically to indict the three “shady characters” you associated with Bob Clement. More disturbingly, your frequent use of lead-off sentences such as “many are wondering” combined with unsubstantiated innuendo and anonymous opinion resemble the tactics of FOX News more than a publication I wanted to believe had integrity and sound investigative journalism.
I think that Bob Clement’s strong record of public service for Tennessee has been further exemplified by the fact that the Scene can’t find more to fault him for than his Southern drawl or some vague association among thousands nationally and globally that a man who has served 15 years in Congress would have certainly made.
Has Karl Dean, in his desire to keep the campaign positive, given his endorsement to your approach?
BECKIE FOSTER
labounty.b@comcast.net (Nashville)
Honor thy soldiers
I
am writing in regard to the recent article about the Veterans Day
parade here in Nashville being postponed because of the Titans football
game (“Veterans Day Delay,” Aug. 23). I’m a very big fan of football,
but I’m sad to know that football can come in the way of our veterans,
that the men and women who have sacrificed their lives for us have been
put on the back burner. My dad fought in Vietnam, and my brother is
currently enlisted in the Army. I am very proud of our soldiers, and I
respect every one of them. I just wish they could have one day set
aside for them to be honored, but this year they have to wait a day so
people can see a bunch of men run up and down a field making
touchdowns. I love football, but I feel that our soldiers and veterans
should come first because of everything they have sacrificed and still
sacrifice for everyone.
STACY STEWART
tweetmoma79@yahoo.com (Hermitage)
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