Ask Elsa

ACLU

Q: If you want to know why newspapers are losing customers, you only have to look at the puff article by The Post and Courier about the hated communist party's legal arm (ACLU) coming to Charleston.

Look at the interview in last Thursday's paper. Your reporter asked all snowball questions, but the one that made me angriest was the one where the reporter asked about our illegal-immigration law and "her" concern that the law did not take away the civil rights of any human being. Bob, James Island.

A With respect, I do not see any evidence that the reporter inserted her personal feelings into the story.

Her question about the immigration law concerned civil rights — an issue being raised nationally around the subject of immigration laws.

Similarly, another question dealt with the "perceived politically correct backlash against Christians."

There is no indication that she agrees or disagrees — only that she is aware of a national debate on the subject.

Good news

Q: A very positive happening occurred on July 4 in Baghdad when 1,215 soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines re-enlisted.

Why was this article in an inconspicuous place on the third page?

With the negative press our military receives, or no press at all, this story could have had a place on the front page. Ned.

A The story would have made a good 1A story for the day after the Fourth of July.

The editors chose instead to feature a local story in which an assortment of people were asked questions about their country. The story reported how well (or poorly) they did with their answers.

The choice could be argued either way. The re-enlistment was more meaty, but the other was fun to read and it was local.

Elsa McDowell, public editor, welcomes questions or comments about the paper's news coverage. Call 937-5626 or e-mail her at askelsa@postandcourier.com.