Biases Over School Board Election

* I was amazed at the sheer amount of bias displayed in your “Orange Trustee Denounces Liberal Activists,” Oct. 30.

Although the headline refers to “liberal activists,” in the article they are referred to as “moderates.” Because school board President Martin Jacobson is using the well-known name-calling and guilt by association tactics so popular with the left, you went out of your way to interview a professor who calls Jacobson’s tactics “red-baiting.”

The article also contains a quote from a challenger who calls him and those like him “right-wing,” but avoids quoting similarly loaded words from Jacobson. This doesn’t read like news, but more like propaganda with a plain double standard.

RICHARD MENDOZA

Santa Ana

* The story on the press conference held by the ultraconservative slate running for election to the Orange Unified school board failed to mention the presence of a large group of irate parents and teachers.

Their questions and comments were ignored. Orange residents are tired of school board members who vote to eliminate programs which help children, such as counseling, and use their position on the board to push their political ideology.

RUTH SHAPIN

TED SHAPIN

Orange

* Your article is a glaring example of biased liberal journalism.

The article’s headline and sub headline imply readers will learn more about the liberal leanings of certain school board candidates, enforced by the fact the article was conceived as a result of conservative candidates holding a news conference in an effort to better define the differences between themselves and liberal candidates.

Instead, you used the opportunity to discredit the conservatives and minimize allegations leveled at liberal candidates. For instance, you allowed three quotes from only one conservative in the article, while giving eight to various liberals. Broken down by paragraphs, there are four which favor and allow conservatives a voice. The opposition was given 13.

As a prelude to one of board President Martin Jacobson’s comments you inappropriately informed readers that Jacobson “campaigned in 1993 wearing an electronic surveillance bracelet after blocking an abortion clinic entrance in an Operation Rescue action.”

I consider that a cheap shot and your intent to discredit the man. You allow almost the entire article to be used as a vehicle to promote and justify the liberal candidates.

MARIAN KRONE

Anaheim