Romney clips tell less than full story

We have recently seen journalistic hatchet jobs by two people who should know better. Fact checking is so common now that even a first-year journalism student knows not getting it right can cost you, both in terms of money and reputation.

First Andrea Mitchell showed a video clip of Mitt Romney voicing his amazement at how to order a sandwich at Wawa’s.

In The Journal Gazette June 21, Jonathan Capehart of the Washington Post editorial page staff fell for the same bait.

He evidently just followed Mitchell’s lead and did not check further.

What both of them did, and The Journal Gazette printed, was not the whole story.

What Romney said was, “I am amazed at how easy the private sector has made things, but the government can’t.” Both journalists deleted the latter part of the statement, Mitchell smirking at the camera as if to suggest this guy is an idiot.

It is my hope that in the future producers and editors alike vet the information being presented so that an accurate accounting will be given viewers and readers of the news.

This fall’s election is going to be ugly from both sides. If we are going to decide who is going to lead the United States based on sound bites and slanted journalism, forwarded emails from who knows what source, then we are in great big trouble.

I look to Fort Wayne Newspapers to do better than a second-rate hatchet job by Capehart.

DAVE COOPER Churubusco

Deputy’s authority derives from where?

In the June 17 Journal Gazette, I read that the deputy mayor can sign bills into law (“Ailing Henry no-show for bill signing”).

When and how did this come about?

I try to keep up with local, state and federal laws. I’ve never seen or read anything pertaining to this. What are the rules around this action taking place?

My take is that if deputy mayors can sign bills into law, they need to be on the ballot running with the mayor for election. We have no idea whom the mayor will select as a deputy.

I don’t mean to say that anything is wrong in the current administration. If deputy authority is the law, then OK.

I would like to see an article about how it came to be the law. I also would like the names of the people who passed the law, so I can consider that next election.

JAMES S. HENDON Fort Wayne

Common sense rules during DUI stops

I was very skeptical when I learned of the Sheriff Ken Fries and County Councilman Paul Moss incident.

But then I learned from a elderly family member who was stopped and given a ride home – but her vehicle was impounded – that it is common practice to let someone go if they are not drunk but have been drinking. This in my opinion is a good practice. Why make everyone into a criminal? I applaud the county for using common sense in these incidents.

KEVIN HENRY Fort Wayne