Sound Off for Feb. 1, 2009
| Sunday, Feb 01 2009 12:17 AM
Last Updated Friday, Mar 27 2009 01:30 PM
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Reader: Is the assembly of more than 200,000 people in Washington, D.C., marching for the culture of life newsworthy?
Is the upcoming assembly of more than 20,000 people in San Francisco newsworthy? They are also marching to promote the end of the scourge of abortion. I can only imagine that the majority of persons promoting abortion and all forms of the culture of death have never seen the blatant and undeniably barbaric killing of a pre-born human being.
The "black-out" by the media, including The CalifornianIS part of the promotion of the culture of death, wittingly or unwittingly. It is obvious you consistently decline to allow coverage of these events. WHY? Compared to the bulk of articles and photos that are inane, how can the coverage of events promoting LIFE go uncovered?
— Mark Kinnsch, D.M.D.
Jenner: We don't give a lot of space to out-of-town rallies — for any cause.
We gave terrific coverage to the 40 Days of Life vigil that took place in Bakersfield in November, including half of a page of color photos and a video online.
I don't see how a news decision to not cover a rally 3,000 miles away makes us "part of the promotion of the culture of death."
We gave prominent coverage to President Barack Obama's reversal of President Bush's policies on abortion.
Just in the last week, two abortion-related news items made the front page: one when NBC decided not to air an anti-abortion Super Bowl commercial featuring Obama and the other when a motorist mowed down a row of crosses at St. Francis Church (see below).
Reader: Your story on the woman who drove over crosses used biased language. "A woman vandalized anti-abortion crosses Saturday night by driving her car over a row of them installed on a church lawn, Bakersfield police reported."
These are not "anti-abortion" crosses, they are pro-life crosses.
You don't call pro-choice activists anti-life activists, so don't call pro-life activism anti-abortion. Get your bias out of reporting the news.
— Jennifer L. Altenhofel
Jenner: For years we've avoided the labels "pro-life" and "pro-choice."
Our style is to say "opponents of abortion" and "abortion rights advocates" for those who believe abortions should be legal.
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Reader: Did you make a mistake or a left-handed jab at Republicans when you reported that the Republicans in the House of Representatives defeated the bill to extend the deadline for transition to digital TV?
You should either publish a correction or explain how it is possible for a minority to block anything.
— E. L. Patterson
Jenner: In our efforts to keep the item short, an important detail was left out. Here's what we didn't say: The vote to delay the switch to digital until June 12 was a "fast-tracked" bill, which requires a two-thirds majority vote to pass.
That's how it was blocked by the Republican minority.
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Reader: Over the past two weeks I have not seen any conservative columnists inThe Californian.To wit: Jan. 13, Thomas Friedman; Jan. 14, Marie Cocco; Jan. 15, Kathleen Parker; Jan. 16, David Brooks; Jan. 20, Leonard Pitts; Jan. 21, Parker; Jan. 22, Maureen Dowd; Jan. 23, Friedman; and Jan. 24, Pitts.
You state The Californianprovides "a daily forum that encourages open, fair and balanced public debate." Doesn't look that way to me!
— Janet Hanson
Editorial Page Editor Robert Price responds: Some of the columnists you list are in fact conservative or conservative-leaning.
David Brooks is very conservative, as is Kathleen Parker, even if every column they write doesn't strike you as such. Expect to see Brooks and Friedman on a regular basis, and more of Mary Sanchez, a moderate who sometimes leans conservative. You'll also continue to see Dan Walters, who leans conservative.
Most of the columns run during the past month addressed the challenges of the new administration. It's not surprising to me that they'd give a new president the benefit of the doubt his first few weeks on the job.
Things will even out over time. In fact, all four of the editorial cartoons featured on yesterday's page took shots at Obama and the Democrats.
We'll try to keep things balanced.
Thanks for keeping us on our toes.
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Reader: I am writing in response to a recent article by James Burger on Kern County Animal Control. I would love to see just one paragraph published about the good that is happening at the shelter. I also disagree with a couple of statements.
The article says low-cost spay and neuter vouchers aren't going well. I'm not sure what is expected, but as of Jan. 21, in California 400 to 500 vouchers have been handed out.
Those are good numbers. Hopefully, all those vouchers will be used, but if only half are, I would say those are great numbers.
In December, euthanasia rates were down and over 300 animals were adopted out — a huge turnaround.
At the off-site adoptions held the first Saturday of each month at Petco around 75 percent of dogs taken are placed, with no way to know how many people go from there to the shelter and find a new friend.
The articles mention H.O.P.E., but not how successful it's been. They are altering 120 animals per month, consistently. Low-cost spay and neuter does work, especially in this economy.
If someone is told they must alter their pet or be fined, do you think they would make a house payment, alter the pet or just get rid of it?
Things are improving, but Rome was not built in a day. If you want to help out, volunteers are needed in multiple areas. Call the shelter or visit their Web site for information.
I'd love to see Lois Henry's name on the roster seeing as how she keeps complaining and telling everyone else to volunteer.
Please acknowledge these successes. A lot of people have worked very hard for improvements.
— Joan Payton
Jenner: We've written more than a paragraph about the positives. Henry's entire column Nov. 30 was devoted to applauding these results.
Unfortunately, as Burger points out, those numbers have been dwarfed by continued overpopulation due to our lousy economy.
It's true that many have worked very hard to move us forward.
We should celebrate their efforts and encourage further progress.
