I found the June 27 Sun article, "Tarring opponents with Gulf oil," both insightful and worrisome. Of particular note was the portion addressing Gov. Martin O'Malley's radio attacks on former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. Thank you for determining the facts and publishing, "Ehrlich has never been a registered lobbyist. Attorneys from the North Carolina office of Ehrlich's law firm represented three big oil companies, but not BP. His industry votes were not opposed by environmental groups." Mr. O'Malley's radio attacks reflect unfavorably on his character and integrity.
I commend The Sun for researching the allegations and revealing the facts. I encourage all media outlets to voluntarily challenge the veracity of the content of political ads before they are aired or printed. Such unbiased fact checking will significantly aid voters in making informed decisions, and it may be the catalyst for moving candidates toward focused, thoughtful and honest debate on issues critical to the electorate. Citizens are tired of the mud slinging and are eager to learn of candidates' plans for addressing the serious challenges facing our society. The media has a civic responsibility to avoid propagating the lies and distortions of politicians.
