CAPE GIRARDEAU NEWS GUARDIAN; SOUTHEAST MISSOURIAN URGED TO STOP SPEAKOUT AND DIVULGE FINANCIAL BACKING

I have been pondering the events of the past week for some time; events that included the publishing in this space last Tuesday of several items which I had received from the public, items which were said to have been submitted to the Southeast Missourian's Speakout column, but without publication. This was accompanied by the Missourian's own "advertorial" in which Peter Kinder and Gary Rust defended their "managing" of the Speakout column. Not content with the forum provided by the Missourian, Kinder then proceeded to devote an entire edition of the "Behind the Headlines" cable television program defending Speakout.

Let's put this incident in perspective. All that was suggested in the advertorial of three weeks ago was that the owners of the News Guardian newspaper believe that Gary Rust manipulates (Peter Kinder used the word "manages" on his TV talk show) the Speakout column. As previously stated the owners of the Guardian believe that Rust has barred from publication comments which he found disagreeable and that he used "planted" calls to further his own political goals. That's not a misstatement of the truth, Gary, the former owners of the Guardian do say that is what they believe to be the case. I then asked the public to send me Speakout items which they had submitted to Speakout but were not published. I then received the items which were published in last week's advertorial.

When Gary Rust purchased the assets of the News Guardian, he agreed to give the former owners of the Guardian an opportunity to continue to air their views through the advertorial you are now reading. One half page is give to them to espouse their views. Mr. Rust should have expected from the outset that the advertorial would often disagree with Mr. Rust's point of view. Why should the advertorial's comments about Speakout and the subsequent printing of censored Speakout items cause such a tremendous reaction?

Could it be that the challenge raised by the advertorial has struck a sensitive nerve? It would seem so.

The Southeast Missourian Urged to Stop Publishing Speakout

The previous News Guardian advertorial created a furor at the Southeast Missourian. It was amusing to see Gary Rust responding to it in his own "advertorial."

But it is a shame that he and his assistant Peter Kinder feel that the common people of this community do not have the guts to stand behind their statements. On his program, Kinder called these people the "non-elites". That's an insult. I believe the working-class people in this community will stand behind what they say. While Speakout may be amusing to some, the perception that it can be manipulated, and used by the people who admit they "manage" it, makes it a dangerous and divisive instrument. Free Speech is guaranteed by our constitution, but so is a person's right to know their accuser. Sniping from behind the anonymous curtain provided by Speakout is unfair, undemocratic and irresponsible.

Peter Kinder said Speakout provides those who have no voice, with a forum. I say it provides those who "manage" it with a mask of anonymity which can be used to pursue a hidden or pre-designed agenda.

Gary, do away with Speakout. You have been asked to do so by many of your friends and colleagues. Many leaders in the community have criticized you for publishing Speakout. As recently as Tuesday night, on "Behind the Headlines" Councilman David Barklage raised many of the points I am raising here.

As the News Guardian evolved, it recognized the need for accountability to extend to its editorial columns. The authors of these editorials signed them. Letters to the Editor were printed only if signed. Such should be done with the editorials found in the Southeast Missourian.

Councilman David Barklage said "speech should be accountable." He added, "Most people should be accountable for what they say and if they really truly believe it, and are really, truly, willing to say it publicly then they should feel the responsibility to add their name to it." I totally agree.

Gary Rust Asked to Divulge Source of Funds Used to Purchase Newspapers in Southeast Missouri.

In Tuesday's Southeast Missourian, Kinder and Rust challenged me as to who was paying my salary. This was divulged in the very first News Guardian advertorial. I have willingly provided my sources of income, but Peter, a larger question really needs to be addressed.

Gary Rust, the publisher of the Southeast Missourian has been gobbling up newspapers in Southeast Missouri. I would guess roughly $20 million (you can supply the exact figure, Gary) has been used to purchase these papers.

Who is providing this money? Is it your family? Is it political allies? Have you borrowed these funds from Boatmen's Bank, where J. Ronald Fischer and Al Spradling III sit on the board of directors? Is it coming from out of state? The public has a right to know to whom you have become indebted in order to create your newspaper empire in Southeast Missouri.

The News Guardian newspaper never made a secret of who its owners and investors were.

The benefit of Gary having control of print media in Southeast Missouri is obvious. If abused, this control could be used to present a biased viewpoint on political issues. A newspaper is not like another business. If Gary Rust owned a string of furniture stores, these questions would not be pertinent. Given the power of the media, these questions need to be raised and need to be answered.