Review the stories in the Brattleboro Reformer and the Rutland Herald today, and a pretty clear picture emerges ... personally I feel that the union question was part of the decision to sack Kate, and the other part was her balanced coverage of Middle East news, including the USA's illegal and fascistic attack of Iraq, and the Palestine-Israel conflict.
I was interviewed by the Rutland Herald regarding on Kate's firing (because of words of support I offered for her on this web site). I said that she had the courage to stand up to fascist control of the mass media in this country, and challenged them to print my remark. They didn't. But their coverage was fairly balanced nonetheless.
The Reformer's own coverage of Kate's firing is nonexistent, of course, but there is one sentence, apparently written by James Barlow, that partially illustrates an answer to Spoon's inquiry:
"In the past the editorial page of the Reformer has been known to lean left on political issues of both national and local interest."
I am thoroughly outraged at the complete lack of moral and political courage by the Reformer's management and owner. I am also pissed, as usual, at the conforming chorus of "Anonymous" comments at this site. Please, folks, we can make this a real 'common' only if we stand by what we say, both personally and politically.
I am cancelling my subscription to the Reformer today in protest. I do not subscribe to limp dishrags.
-- John Wilmerding