Published in the Oct. 30, 2012, Tomahawk Leader:

Dear Editor,

I did not realize that to express an opinion for one candidate or another, or express an opinion that is leaning towards one party of another, can be charged for in an editorial column. What if a serious issue comes up, whether it be a bill or a recall, that is brought up by either party? Do I get charged for $25 then?

This is a very unusual change to our constitution. Freedom of speech is now charged based on the editorial content?
Editorials are looked into as to people that wrote them. The signature as such is not a reflection of the newspaper. It is an individual expressing their views. Your newspaper already says that they are not responsible for the editorial’s views. You are just publishing them.

This is what a newspaper does. Publish. Charges are for subscriptions, advertisements and people’s personal ads. A newspaper publishes information about what is happening in the community.

It is not to charge for editorials.

Sue Anderson
Hawkins

Sue,

Hate to break it to you but you're letter is based on a significantly inaccurate interpretation of the constitution! The Constitution of the United States is an agreement between you and the US Government on how the government will operate and the rights you have with it.

Newspapers are privately owned and the US Constitution says the newspaper has a right to free speech and the government wont censor it. Nowhere in the document does it state that you have any right to force a private business to do anything.

The Tomahawk Leader, and every other newspaper is a business. As such, its primary purpose is to make money, failure to do so means it fails to exist. As owners of the Tomahawk Leader, Larry and Kathy can create any policy they want and it has no bearing on any of your constitutional rights. If you don't like what they are doing you have every legal right to buy or build your own publication (and the government won't tell you what to publish either).

Finally, you'll notice a number of the endorsements so far have been paid for by actual campaigns. If nothing else, that specifically shows what was happening. Campaigns were getting people to submit letters rather than pay for advertising...

Sue,
I am with you on this. Constitutional or not, it is pretty desperate on the Tomahawk Leader they want to charge the folks who read this little paper $25.00 to express their opinions regarding a political candidate. Surely they can tell the difference between a full blown candidate ad, and one of personal views. You know how you show your support? Quit buying the paper, and read it online for free. It is sad they are getting petty-petty to make a buck. They will just decrease their reader base in the end.
Renee