Should Press be tougher on letter writers?

This is a letter to the editor that will appear in an upcoming edition of the Press. Mr. Cameron raises a concern that we hear from time to time about more rigorously editing or censoring letters to the editor that do not meet certain standards. Our policy has been to allow freedom of expression even when it's considered inappropriate by some of our readers. Read this letter and then please comment and let us know where you think the line should be drawn, whether a letter should be published or not. Respectfully, Mike Patrick, editor

PRESS: Standards lacking on letters

If G.W. Rodkey is a fool, then the letter attributed to him in the Press (Obama: Traitor in the White House, July 16) is proof of it. But on the other hand, a mistake may have been made. Someone else may have written the letter and the names got mixed up. If that's what happened, then the Press could be held liable for making someone who's not a fool appear like one. Namely, Mr. Rodkey.

I hope, for Mr. Rodkey's sake, that it was, in fact, all a big mistake and that he'll be bringing suit against the paper in the near future.

But what I'd really like to see — seriously —is for the Coeur d'Alene Press to adopt standards, ethical standards, that would send garbage like this to the trash heap, where it belongs. The paper may not have created this diatribe or others like it that ooze up now and then, but it certainly bears responsibility for printing, distributing and lending them credibility.

Mr. Rodkey's stinking effluent has no redeeming value, whatsoever. No facts. No reasoning. Nothing of real interest or value. But more to its discredit is the outrageous accusation made against the president, one repeated in the heading, courtesy of the editor.

Like I say, adopt some standards.

DEL CAMERON

Coeur d’Alene