Letters to the Editor

Editorial was biased against candidates

Tue, 07/08/2008 - 3:58pm
By: Letters to the ...

I think you were biased and unfair in your July 2, 2008, editorial: “Disrespecting our readers, the voters.” In my view, the editorial shows “disrespect” for those candidates who had the fortitude to refuse to be intimidated by your newspaper.

When I read about your “online forum” initially, it seemed a formidable, if not impossible, task for the candidates. The “forum” format is a “no-win” situation for all of them. It is somewhat like asking, “Have you stopped beating your wife?”

I agree with those who refused to participate and I admire their courage. The Citizen’s rules of engagement left them little choice.

Ben Backus

Peachtree City, Ga.

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Have you stopped beating your wife?
mapleleaf's picture
Submitted by mapleleaf on Wed, 07/09/2008 - 9:45am.

The only time this question is truly unfair is when it is worded, Yes or no, have you stopped beating your wife? Otherwise, a smart enough person can come up with an intelligent answer, and one of the challenges of public life as an elected official is to be able to respond appropriately (and graciously) to people who don't word questions the way you might prefer.

The Citizen's questions were a good test of the candidates' fitness for public office. The questions afforded the candidates a wonderful opportunity to present their views and show their resiliency. The better candidates answered, while the lesser candidates hid their prickliness behind their professed outrage.


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What if you only beat your dog?
Submitted by Y oh Y on Wed, 07/09/2008 - 10:28am.

Come on Maple,

I think there are better tests of candidates then how do you suffer rudeness and snide questions. That seems to be a theme, people want to see if the canddiates can take a beating. Maybe if we can find 5 people who can work together for all of us, we may get the schools we all want.

As for the questions :

The one about the out of county students was poorly written. I agree there are out of county kids... But how many? My spouse's car had a Clayton tag on it until we sold it, just did not get a new sticker and we lived in PTC. Several neighbors have company cars that are registered out of county but they live in PTC. My point is that the devil is in the details. I though Sniffles had a great idea here about sending unforwadable mail to all student's physical address then investigate any returned mail.

What grade do you give redistricting.. kinda set up the Marion Key gives herself and the board an F headline. Houston wrote a letter to the Citizen complaining about it. Simple questions do not support candidates, these did plain and simple.

You see where I am going. I think the Citizen and the candidates should have talked and come to an agreement. Trust, communication, and reason are necessary for all of us to work together to continue our great schools in Fayette County.

All the candidates have websites, search em, contact the candidtaes and get YOUR questions answered.

Trust but verify

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