LETTERS: COLUMN WAS INCORRECT

To the editor:

On May 7 I pointed out directly to your associate publisher, Sen. Peter Kinder, the inaccuracies in his May 5 column. In accordance with the wishes of Senator Kinder, I am writing to you following his offer to print a correction.

As I mentioned in a conversation with the senator, when I entered the governor's office for the press conference last week, I entered from the hallway, not from the governor's private office. As all who work in or serve in public office in the Capitol are aware, the door offering direct access from the hallway to the governor's private office is generally unused. Therefore, it would have been impossible for the events outlined in the column to have taken place as the senator claimed. In addition, credible journalism, as a matter of course, requires verification of facts prior to publication. Since I did not exit the governor's office immediately prior to the press conference and no representative of the Southeast Missourian verified my whereabouts with me prior to publication of the column, it is clear that the principles of honest journalism were ignored. I did not speak to Governor Carnahan prior to the press conference. I do not give him "marching orders."

I also take great offense at Senator Kinder's assertion that Governor Carnahan is "owned" by the "large and lucrative abortion industry." Since when to five (count them, five) facilities constitute a "large and lucrative" industry? Planned Parenthood agencies are, I must emphasize, not-for-profit entities.

Is Governor Carnahan pro-choice? Yes. Are a majority of Missourians pro-choice? Yes. Do a majority of Missourians favor further restricting a woman's constitutional right to choose to terminate her pregnancy? No. The facts are clear. And no one owns anyone else.

If the good senator wishes to proselytize, so be it. But your newspaper maligns fine journalists when it permits personal attacks.

CRYSTAL WILLIAMS, Executive Director

Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Missouri Inc.

Jefferson City