Virginia-Staunton Paper

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Norton

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This is what the Staunton Newsleader thinks of you guys:
bilde



They can be reached at:
Street Address:
The News Leader
11 N. Central Avenue
Staunton, VA 24402

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 59
Staunton, VA 24402

Switchboard:
(540) 885-7281 or (800) 793-2459

or:

http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=CUSTOMERSERVICE03
 
HOLY (COMPLETELY UN HIGH-ROAD RESPONSE)

That tears it. I'm home sick as a DOG today and I still feel like walking down the street IN PERSON tohave a little chat with the editor on this one! (and maybe throw up on his desk while I'm at it).

Folks, we MUST hit the comment board here...
http://www.newsleader.com/news/blogs/blog1/2007/12/bubba.html

I'm sure this angers you as much as it does me but we MUST KEEP IT HIGH ROAD!
 
I don't know what has been going on down there lately. Their editorial board has been going absolutely bonkers with this anti-gun thing.

They had about 3 editorials within a week in November that were blatantly anti-gun.

I sent them a letter asking if they were that desperate for readership like the Roanoke Times?
 
On second thought I've begun composing an email to send out to the advertisers for the "leader". The rough form of which is as follows (Please feel free to comment).

Dear XXXX,

As someone who advertises in, and is therefore associated with, the Staunton News Leader, I thought you might want to be aware of the recent "editorial cartoon" they posted on December 5'th 2007.

The cartoon in question is viewable at
http://www.newsleader.com/news/blogs/blog1/2007/12/bubba.html

The News Leader would never have an editorial cartoon about blacks, watermelon and fried chicken, yet this cartoon (essentially the white version of a "blackface minstrel" show) was apparently deemed appropriate for publication.

While this action is not especially surprising given the News Leader's longstanding antagonism towards gun owners, the real question that must be asked is, do -you- honestly want your business associated with a "newspaper" that willingly promotes this (or any) type of stereotyping and prejudice?
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Unbelievable.

Are they owned by the same people as The Roanoke Times by chance?
 
Virginians need to fight this stuff every single time that it pops up.

A lot of VA is being repopulated with people from MD, NJ, NY and MA and they are bringing their ways with them.
 
A lot of VA is being repopulated with people from MD, NJ, NY and MA and they are bringing their ways with them.
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Um, I am from NJ, and no, we are all NOT that way. I am the most pro-gun person you'll ever meet.
 
Um, I am from NJ, and no, we are all NOT that way. I am the most pro-gun person you'll ever meet.
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Naturally that's the case, but you and I both know that people like us from MD and NJ are not the norm :p
 
FIRE MISSION

Dear Editor:

I am appalled at the disparaging cartoon portraying NRA members as ignorant, unwashed slobs. You do your readership a great disservice by this sort of pejorative characterization. Your cartoon amounts to nothing more than childish name-calling. When an incompetent debater has no grist or foundation for his position, he will resort to name-calling and insults. It is there that you find yourself on this issue. I should think you could do better.
 
I'm sure we have a few cartoonists here at THr that could make a cartoon mocking this person's interpretation of the 2nd.

Something like, "I'm Wiley Dumbutt and I think all minorities, immigrants and women should.....blah blah blah. .....and I can say that because of the 1st amendment even though I never read it cuz I'm a wannabe newsperson."
 
Or maybe
"Hey News Leader, you do know that the second amendment safeguards your right to post stupid cartoons under the first amendment...right?"
 
Here's my letter to the editor:

Dear Editor:

I am appalled at the disparaging cartoon portraying NRA members as ignorant, unwashed slobs. It's obvious that you have no idea of who or what Constitutes an NRA member. They are Police Officers, doctors, lawyers, electricians, plumbers, waiters, politicians, actors, firefighters. They also represent different cultures, races and religions.

You do your readership a great disservice by this sort of pejorative, insulting, and discriminatory characterization. When a debater's point, or foundation, is built on quicksand, like your cartoon is; name calling and negative racial stereotyping is the result.

What your cartoon represents is nothing more than a child's temper tantrum to gain attention. I should think an editorial board could do better.

v/r,
 
Just posted this to their comments (in case it gets nuked):

Wow. Is the "News Leader" editorial staff so desperate in the wake of the blockbuster Parker v. DC decision that the best they can do is resort to ad hominem, racist attacks? What's next? An editorial suggesting gun owners wear arm bands with little yellow guns on them? Seriously. This is beyond contempt.

Anyhow, laugh it up while you can, because it won't be long before the Supreme Court upholds Parker. But then, I guess you all know that, and are simply making a last ditch effort to push your unconstitutional agenda.

P.S. Have fun explaining to your advertisers that this racist stunt is why their business has dropped off. I for one will be boycotting anyone who funds your little propaganda machine. And it's not likely that I'll be alone in my endeavor.
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Yikes!

Hello,
I have a house on the outskirts of Staunton where I will move permanently when I retire from the Navy. I sent the paper a note registering my concerns. Foremost, I won't subscribe to a paper that engages in that sort of biased recklessness. As some have mentioned, I doubt they would be similarly reckless with "liberal" issues.
Staunton is a quirky town, seemingly taken with being "artsy." Some of this is to the town's credit. Perhaps this cartoon was simply pandering to that crowd. Certainly, the paper is risking alienating a sizable demographic (and subscriber base) in the relatively conservative central valley.
I do applaud their on-line ability to interact. Hopefully their response will do them credit.
Bowwave
 
I can't figure out what's going on with that paper. I lived in Staunton from 89-2000 and can never recall the editorial board taking such far out leftist fews on things like this. They had always been content to be a small town paper that was interested in serving the community.

Now it seems that they want to follow the lead of their larger city counterparts.
 
And today McCloskey's reply on the page...
http://www.newsleader.com/news/blogs/blog1/2007/12/bubba.html

12:22 AM, December 07, 2007
Jim McCloskey said...
Wow..I take one day off and look what happens....OK, now that's done, here's where this one came from: On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to see a state legislator look the father of a slain Va. Tech student in the eye and say that having to mandate gun purchases through a licensed dealer would be an unnecessary infringement upon his civil liberties!! Perhaps we should just allow them to be sold in vending machines? Hey, it's a RIGHT, isn't it? Funny, when I bought my first hunting rifle (which I still proudly own) I looked upon gun ownership as a "Privilege". And this is coming from someone who grew up in West Virginia. Who can fail to see the NRA pulling the lawmaker's strings here?! Unfortunately this misguided sentiment is widely shared. There are also those who say "let everyone pack heat and we won't have to worry about any more Cho's!" But hey, don't take the word "of a "flaming liberal"for it. An older balding gentleman who sat on the same panel espoused identical ideas. His name was (Col.) W. Gerald Massengill--retired Va. State Police superintendent. I think he knows a thing or two about guns, don't you think? :)
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On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to see a state legislator look the father of a slain Va. Tech student in the eye and say that having to mandate gun purchases through a licensed dealer would be an unnecessary infringement upon his civil liberties!! Perhaps we should just allow them to be sold in vending machines? Hey, it's a RIGHT, isn't it?
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My understanding is that the Virginia Tech murderer did make his gun purchases through a licensed dealer.

Perhaps Jim McCloskey should contact that father of the slain student to give him that information.

I do agree with Jim McCloskey that some rights are intolerable today. One that troubles me most is this freedom of the press nonsense that has been extended by activist judges to include newspapers sold in vending machines. That's wrong.

Newspapers sold in vending machines should not be protected because they are not free. People must put money into those vending machines in order to obtain a newspaper, and they are subject to criminal penalties if they try to take it without paying. So the very poor--those most in need of information-- are denied it by greedy robber barons such as the Gannett conglomerate.

Freedom of the press should protect a free press, and a newspaper that charges money is not free.

Although it's kind of Jim McCloskey to take it upon himself to determine which rights are tolerable, which aren't, and which of them are not rights but privileges, there is no need for him to spend his time that way. I am willing to make those decisions for everyone. Today I have decided to revoke his right to speak. Tomorrow I might change my mind.
 
RobertH,
If you have not done so already, you should send your previous post to the Editor at the Staunton paper. It was just about perfect.
 
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