To: The Dallas Morning News 
Date:  September 26, 2008
Subject: The Dallas Morning News makes political recommendations (part 2)
Result: pending, officially

Dear Editor,

I see y'all have a new marketing campaign, consisting of quarter page ads on adjoining pages in section A, one addressed to each of the Presidential candidates. "NEWSPAPERS DELIVER VOTERS", the ads declare. I guess what you are referring to is your editorial recommendations of who people should vote for.

You devote that extremely valuable newspaper space – so valuable that you've taken all kinds of sloppy shortcuts with your newspaper to save paper – knowing that there are going to be a lot of people who will do whatever you say. It's just like any other kind of marketing. Anybody spending money on it does so with the expectation that it will deliver results – or they wouldn't spend the money. Likewise, you employ your valuable resources in behalf of your preferred candidates, knowing that it is going to have an influence, and very possibly will provide the edge needed to get them elected.

Of course what you are trying to suggest in your ads is that, with all the important information received in The Dallas Morning News, people will have the basis for informed decisions. That's the way it should be. But you and I know what is really going on – and the ads say it. It is your manipulation of elections.

Too bad for Senator Obama, the candidate you'll be delivering the votes for this time will be Senator McCain.

Thank you, John Vehon