Cover Photo of Grieving Military Mother "Pro-War Propaganda"

Express

[Pyro7480]

Yesterday, the Express, a free newspaper printed by the Washington Post, printed a photograph of Charlotte and Doug Smette of Makoti, ND, whose son Keith died serving his country in Iraq on their front page (this photograph can be viewed here). They were attending the rally for military families on the National Mall on Sunday, co-sponsored by the DC Chapter of Free Republic.

Today, the Express printed three letters-to-the-editor, all written by leftists who were expressing their outrage that the photograph was even published (the pdf file of today's edition can be viewed at this link; it's on page 36). Here are the letters.

In-Your-Face Propaganda
With everything that happened this past weekend (Rita, anti-war protest, President's Cup, etc.), Express' front page picture Monday was of a crying mother of the pro-war gathering that attracted only a few hundred. I was disgusted by this blatant display of pro-war propaganda.
-Alex Sittig, Washington, DC

You Know You're "Right"
Thanks for giving me a good retort to complaints of my right-leaning friends and coworkers that the Post and Express are lefty publications. Reading the Express on Monday, I found a full story and a cover photo covering the pro-war rally, but no coverage at all of the anti-war and anti-globalization protests.
-Gregory Wahl, Washington, DC

Work the Numbers
Is the Headline "Hundreds Rally to Support Troops" that much more newsworthy than "Hundreds of Thousands March for Peace"?
-Tanya Spann Roche, Beltsville, MD

[GVnana]

Gee. These writers must be as self-absorbed as Cindy Sheehan to think the local media would prefer coverage of a bunch of out-of-town kooks stinking up the place, to a picture of a woman most of America can empathize with.

For once, I'm on the newspaper's side.

[GVnana]

Gee. These writers must be as self-absorbed as Cindy Sheehan to think the local media would prefer coverage of a bunch of out-of-town kooks stinking up the place, to a picture of a woman most of America can empathize with.

For once, I'm on the newspaper's side.

[I still care]

Simply because they didn't lead with a picture from the antiwar rally doesn't mean they are antiwar.

Now I am biased. I would have lead with this one:

[normy]

You Know You're "Right" Thanks for giving me a good retort to complaints of my right-leaning friends and coworkers that the Post and Express are lefty publications. Reading the Express on Monday, I found a full story and a cover photo covering the pro-war rally, but no coverage at all of the anti-war and anti-globalization protests. -Gregory Wahl, Washington, DC

Believe me Gregory Wahl, the Post did you and your people a huge favor by NOT showing that freak show.

[SuziQ]

Is the Headline "Hundreds Rally to Support Troops" that much more newsworthy than "Hundreds of Thousands March for Peace"?

It's certainly more TRUTHFUL!

[chgomac]

I wish someone could post a photo of Cindy & the other speakers in front of the A.N.S.W.E.R. banner on their platform....any mention of A.N.S.W.E.R. drives the democrats crazy..I say, let's help them with a picture that could become as famous as the NO busses!

[SuziQ]

Charlotte looks more like a grieving mother than the camera-hound Cindy.

[RightWingAtheist]

Let's see now...The constant self-promotion of and media fawning Cindy Sheehan does not count as propaganda...but a single picture of grieving military mother does.

An American flag or a yellow ribbon tied to a car is to be derided...but plastering your car with bumper stickers and decals repeating anti-war sound bites is to be applauded as courageous and the exercise of dissent.

Hypocrisy, thy name is the left.

[RightWingAtheist]

Is there a "Caption This" thread for that pic? If there isn't, I'll go and make one!

[Nathan Zachary]

There wasn't ANY coverage of the anti war rally in these parts today, and only a brief flash of a lunatic being hauled away by police last night.

I guess those lunatics on the left are upset that their 8,500 crowd of all sorts of protestors- from palestinian freedom protestors to maxists lenonists get a little cranky when they don't get the spotlight they perposely violate laws to get.

[Pyro7480]

Here's the caption thread: Caption This (Jesse Jackson & Cindi)

[RightWingAtheist]

Thanx

[Nathan Zachary]

[RightWingAtheist]

Cindy Sheehan thrills a local photographer by demonstrating her Mark Morford impression on an oblivious Jesse Jackson.

[Minnesocold]

I like Rush's version of Sheehadi's lovefest (note doctored signs):

[BushisTheMan]

Well, we know the names of three DU dummies at least. We all know they read FreeRepublic more than they read their own idiotic disgusting Web site. They steal all our ideas too.

They probably saw yesterday's post and decided to do their nasty evil mean-spirited nasty DU responses to anything that represents pro-America.

Kommies - all of them!

[blackie]

Liberal moonbats are clueless ~ Bump!

[rogue yam]

Yuck! Talk about "stuck on stupid."

[GAB-1955]

I would say "Bravo Zulu" to the D.C. Chapter. This was to be the antiwar movement's catalyst to becoming a truly powerful national movement. Instead, it became as disappointing as "Ashlee Simpson Unplugged." The Express covered both sides and the leftists are unhappy. Good.

[kenth]

Well, it smelled like hundreds of thousands...