News stories resulted in low primary turnout

To the Editor,

I am disgusted by the Associated Press story "Primary turnout sets record for low turnout" that appeared on the front page of the 13 Feb 2012 edition of the Daily American Republic. The facts of the story may not be in dispute. But the story itself follows on the heels of at least two previous ones -- also from the Associated Press, also on the front page -- that ran in the DAR. And the writers of those stories appeared dedicated to depressing the very voter turnout this story now decries:

"This election won't mean anything" is basically how the headlines for each of these previous stories read, if readers will recall. And as such, this and the previous stories no longer constitute news reportage, but as a package they are news manipulation. Think about it: if you hear and see over and over that your vote won't mean anything, how likely is it that you WILL vote when the time comes?

The word "propaganda" comes to mind . . .

I did vote, but workers at my polling station said turnout was VERY light, only 54 ballots total. That low turnout was doubtless thanks to the drumbeat of "meaningless vote" stories this newspaper ran on its front page beforehand, that the 13 Feb story now deplores.

Reminds me of the tax deal Congressional Democrats conned George H.W. Bush into accepting in 1990. He went along with raising taxes to balance the budget -- and then the Democrats used that same tax increase to help unseat him in 1992.

The Daily American Republic is a local paper. As such, it should feature local, or at worst, regional, stories on its front page. State and national stories belong inside. News manipulation stories from the Dissociated Press belong nowhere.

Gary A. Exelby

Poplar Bluff, Mo.