LETTERS: AP STORIES SLANTED TOWARD LIBERAL BIAS

To the editor:

Once again I see an Associated Press article in the Southeast Missourian with liberal bias showing. I refer to the article on Pat Buchanan on Page 4A of the Nov. 19 edition. The first sentence, "Pat Buchanan has plenty of experience raising a rabble ... ," indicates that Pat's supporters are "rabble." The headline, " ... Pat Buchanan stumps ... " appears to be crafted to sound as though a hillbilly is standing on a stump rather than using the respectable word "campaigns."Then, to add ultimate insult, in the middle of the article is a picture of Mel Carnahan. There is no mention of Carnahan in the article.

I have noticed many of these political articles, always with the Associated Press byline, using deprecating language regarding conservatives and positively glowing when writing about liberals.

Do you have to print these as written? Does James Carville teach a liberal school of newswriting? Sure looks like it.

DEAN PERCIVALCape GirardeauEDITOR'S NOTE: The photo of Mel Carnahan in the story about Pat Buchanan was an error made by the Southeast Missourian while processing that page for publication.