We Must Correct Lies That Masquerade as Truth.

Note: I can not confirm that the letter writer here is a republican, however, the letter does state the republican party line.

UPDATE, SEPTEMBER 9, 2004: MY LETTER WAS NOT PUBLISHED TODAY.

Here is an example. The following letter appeared in my local paper, the Contra Costa Times, on Monday September 6, 2004. Click here or on the letter to enlarge it to a readable size.




Click here or on the letter to enlarge.
Originally published in the Contra Costa Times, Monday September 6, 2004.

These lies deserve a correction. What follows is a letter I wrote to the Contra Costa Times. Based on the verification phone call I received, I expect this letter to be published tomorrow, September 9, 2004.

I assumed that letters to the Readers' Forum, while expressing opinion, also had to be factual. The Times states that "Letters are subject to verification" a process designed to "make sure or demonstrate that (something) is true, accurate, or justified." [source: Oxford University Press] The letter, "Truth unknown," published Monday, September 6, 2004 fails this process. John Kerry's military records are available at his website, www.johnkerry.com. I can understand Ms. Ehrman's confusion. One candidate, George Bush, actively fought the release of his records, released as few records as possible in response to Freedom of Information Act requests, and some whose records are still missing according to the Associated Press ("Records on Bush's Military Service are Missing" Matt Kelley, Associated Press, September 6, 2004).

Michael Brent

EVERY TIME YOU SEE A LIE, CHALLENGE IT!