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

[pepsionice]

I have to say that this picture of Jesse and her....is one of the most amusing pictures of the entire year. Jesse probably feels like a fool for standing there and letting this dimwit hug him.

[steve8714]

"Hundreds of thousands of unemployable accept free ride to capital paid for by NEA and AFL-CIO!"

[reagan_fanatic]

Ah, yes, the press's little media darling and the face of the war they want to represent.