Reporting news doesn’t equal ‘piling on’

Reader: Yes, I am not happy about the article (“Flatter or fight? Governors seeking help must navigate Trump,” March 27) from the governor, I think it was of Illinois, that is crabbing about Trump because he didn’t respond to his need for masks and ventilators.

Well, you know what, he’s dealing with a lot of stuff. That article was unnecessary. You need to quit piling on Trump. He’s doing the best he can.

What other president had to deal with this kind of stuff?

And you didn’t need to print a picture of that fat (expletive) either. And I’m not leaving you my name and number. — Anonymous Peterson: Where do I start? I wish readers could hear the anger in the voicemail this reader left. I haven’t heard anger like it in quite some time, and yes, I do talk with some unhappy callers. (For the record, I appreciate the callers who will engage in a respectful give-and-take with me, even if we don’t agree on every point).

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker criticized President Trump for his response, or in the governor’s opinion, lack thereof, to his request for more masks and ventilators. The article referenced above says that after the “first-term Democrat blasted the Trump administration Sunday on CNN,” he and Trump had a Twitter fight, then later they actually talked to one another.

Presidents throughout history have had to deal with terrible things. I’m thinking the Civil War, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, Hurricane Katrina ... I could go on.

Reporting on tension between elected officials isn’t “piling on.” In fact, “conflict” is one of the elements of what makes a situation newsworthy. They’re sparring — during a pandemic — and we presented that information. Please don’t shoot the messenger. This week I received a copy of the column “Our medical professionals are lions; too many political leaders are donkeys,” which published March 26. A reader wrote in thick red pen everything she didn’t like about the author’s opinion. The anonymous reader wrote, “So many lies in The News! Thank goodness for Fox.” The writer also said author Max Boot, a Washington Post columnist, should be given the “boot.”

Fair enough. This reader expressed his or her opinion, or that of a couple or family, as a note on the column said “we.”

I’d simply like to remind readers that’s what the Opinion section of the newspaper and website is for — opinions! Max Boot’s column was clearly labeled as opinion. Don’t like an opinion piece you see? Consider penning your own letter to the editor of no more than 250 words and send it to opinion@ bakersfield.com. We do require your name and contact information; no anonymous submissions are published there.

Executive Editor Christine L. Peterson answers your questions and takes your complaints about our news coverage in this weekly feedback forum. Questions may be edited for space and clarity. To offer your input by phone, call 661-395-7649 and leave your comments in a voicemail message or email us at soundoff@bakersfield.com. Include your name and phone number; your contact information won’t be published.