To: nytnews@nytimes.com
Subject: Concern re: Jodi Wilgoren
Dear Editor:
I write not for publication but to raise an issue which is of concern to
me. I realize that you likely get complaints of bias from partisans of all
political stripes and, therefore, are not quick to regard any of your
reporters as showing an undue slant toward or against any particular
candidate. However, I am concerned with recent coverage of Howard Dean by
Jodi Wilgoren, and I have compiled some of her recent submissions.
I do not know whether she is a world-class reporter and I'm too partisan
to see it or whether perhaps she is a time-pressured reporter who may be
taking shortcuts by taking opposing candidates' (including candidate Bush)
press-releases at face value without reviwewing the assertions therein. I
ask only that you review my letter, know that at least one reader is
concerned, and keep the issue in mind when future articles are submitted.
I thank you for your consideration.
----------
Google News seems to be better at picking up the articles from sources
outside the New York Times, but here are some links -- the original source
is the New York Times.
LOS ANGELES -- Howard Dean declared yesterday that "the capture of Saddam
Hussein has not made America safer," provoking an avalanche of attacks
from rivals who have seized on Sunday's news as a way of redrawing the
foreign policy debate in the Democratic presidential campaign.
[Please note: the full quote in question was something to the effect of
"the capture of Saddam Hussein is a good thing, and it makes our soldiers
safer, but the capture of Saddam Hussein has not made America safer." The
omission of the first part eviscerates the point Dean was making.]
The critical difference between him and Bush -- the man he once admired as
a fellow governor but now derides for having an "extraordinarily tin ear"
-- is often one of style more than substance."
. . .
His planned speech on Monday is the product of many hands, including those
of former Vice President Al Gore, whose consultations on the text were a
prelude to his recent endorsement of the Dean candidacy.
(Dean will not say which parts Gore edited.)
[Can you imagine an article about a Bush speech discussing who edited
which parts?]
. . .
"Even items that are staples of his stump speech -- like the proposal to
replace National Guard and Reserves in Iraq with 100,000 international
troops, mainly from Muslim and Arab countries -- are short on specifics.
He did not name the nations that might provide them, or explain, beyond
promising to repair relations abroad, how he would persuade countries who
feel they were shunned by the Bush administration to join in the
reconstruction effort."
[Again, how many articles do you see that take Bush to task for not
backing up his vague proclamations?]
As the former Vermont governor wound up his introduction of his newest,
best-known supporter here on Tuesday afternoon, a shout of "Big Al" came
from the crowd. Dean smirked his trademark smirk and explained, "It's a
two-way campaign, Mr. Vice President."
["smirked his trademarked smirk"? G.W. Bush has a prominent smirk, but I
have not noted off-hand remarks about his facial expressions in the New
York Times.]
. . .
Wearing dark gray suits and ties of a nearly identical periwinkle hue, the
two men said, in twin appearances here and in the New York neighborhood of
Harlem, that their partnership was forged through fierce opposition to the
Iraq war and a desperate desire to unseat President Bush. [Who cares
what they were *wearing*? Are we going to start discussing earth-tones
again just because it's Al Gore?]
"I'll unseal mine if he will unseal all of his," said Dr. Dean, who is
seeking the Democratic presidential nomination.
But Mr. Bush's Texas records were moved back to state custody after a
ruling from the attorney general, and an archivist for the state said the
Bush records were available for viewing.
[Absolutely no discussion of how difficult it is to get a look at Bush's
papers.]
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