DNR played by hate merchants

The Daily News Record was apparently scammed by the merchants of hate and intolerance at the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. Well known for their absurd assertion that U.S. military deaths are God's punishment for homosexuality, the Westboro bigots told the DNR that they'd protest at the funeral of Army Spc. Brian "Bucky" Anderson in Broadway. The DNR obliged by giving the hate mongers prime space (log-in required) on the front page of the June 22 edition, thereby promoting hate while distracting from Anderson's funeral. Anderson was killed in Afghanistan on June 12.

Mr. Yates and Mr. Hunt... would it have been so hard to wait until after the funeral to then, and only then, report on any protests by the Westboro Baptist gang. Those guys played you like a fiddle, getting free front page publicity, not once but probably twice, for their venom of religious hatred. But, something tells me the DNR is proud of giving the assist!

Unsubscribe

The call was easy. The person who took it was polite and efficient, quickly finding my info and informing me of the amount of the refund. When asked why I wanted to unsubscribe from the newspaper, there was a muffled chuckle... or was it a gulp... to my words? My response was that I like the news and sports coverage in the Daily News-Record, but that the hateful editorials had bothered me for months. The double entendre in the title for today's editorial had, I said, crossed the line - it was trash. Trash for which I would no longer pay.

I believe in freedom of the press. I also believe consumers can and should vote with their dollars.