Downtown Georgetown
'Chronicle' Endorsements 'Lockstep With the Establishment'
RECEIVED Tue., May 8, 2012
Dear Editor,
I am an Austin Chronicle reader, as well as an Austin voter, and I have been appalled by the hostile politics your circulation has promoted against Laura Pressley, candidate for Austin City Council in Place 2. (See the April 19 News article by Michael King,"Point Austin: Money and Minds.”) Dr. Pressley is an excellent candidate for public office. With a Ph.D. in Chemistry from UT, large- and small-business management experience, cost-reduction leadership in the technology industry, strong environmental stewardship, and volunteer service as a board member of several domestic abuse survivors' groups, I think she is the strongest among the entire pack of candidates running for this level of government. The Chronicle has been outspoken against the National Defense Authorization Act, the wars overseas, and government bailouts, just as Dr. Pressley has been, but when The Austin Chronicle released its political endorsements, it went with the safe bet by voting lockstep with the establishment in backing all incumbents. Your “cool,” "grassroots,” and "independent" reputation as one of my trusted news sources has been completely spoiled in my eyes. Reporters who put opinion over facts and show favoritism for one candidate over another are not reporters, and editors who allow that kind of “journalism” to go to print are not doing their jobs.
I am an Austin Chronicle reader, as well as an Austin voter, and I have been appalled by the hostile politics your circulation has promoted against Laura Pressley, candidate for Austin City Council in Place 2. (See the April 19 News article by Michael King,"Point Austin: Money and Minds.”) Dr. Pressley is an excellent candidate for public office. With a Ph.D. in Chemistry from UT, large- and small-business management experience, cost-reduction leadership in the technology industry, strong environmental stewardship, and volunteer service as a board member of several domestic abuse survivors' groups, I think she is the strongest among the entire pack of candidates running for this level of government. The Chronicle has been outspoken against the National Defense Authorization Act, the wars overseas, and government bailouts, just as Dr. Pressley has been, but when The Austin Chronicle released its political endorsements, it went with the safe bet by voting lockstep with the establishment in backing all incumbents. Your “cool,” "grassroots,” and "independent" reputation as one of my trusted news sources has been completely spoiled in my eyes. Reporters who put opinion over facts and show favoritism for one candidate over another are not reporters, and editors who allow that kind of “journalism” to go to print are not doing their jobs.
Rebecca Gene Pratt
