News, views can't be influenced by fear

April 22, 2006

We can’t even count the number of times we have disagreed with South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford on his proposals, everything from his views on education to Medicaid to refurbishing the governor’s mansion with private donations (which we saw as a conflict of interest, questioning what donors might expect for their financial support).

Yet he remains the consummate gentleman, a professional to the core, always willing to listen to those who disagree with him, ever polite and even gracious in the face of criticism, not taking the comments personally knowing they are not made personally, that commentary on his actions is simply something that comes with being in public life. We can’t think of one occasion he even hinted to us that anyone here was "out to get him."

He returns telephone calls and is available, if not immediately in short order. He even came to an Anderson Independent-Mail Pointing the Way recognition for community leaders and spoke with passion and humor. That was just after we referred to his Put Parents in Charge proposal as a public relations ploy instead of a real plan to improve public education.

He’s just that kind of guy. And as we’ve said more than once, while we may not agree with some of his politics and policies, it would be impossible not to like and respect him.

How that differs from aspects of the recent mayoral campaign.

We like it when people disagree with our editorials. It means you are at least reading views that contrast with your own, you are thinking, you are considering other ideas, not relying on preconceived notions or adopting someone else’s views because it’s easier than thinking for yourself. We believe discussion that results from disagreement is both healthy and beneficial to the community.

It’s been plainly demonstrated that we are interested in what our readers think of our newspaper. The editor’s Sunday column has attempted to open the doors metaphorically, to let readers inside how the newspaper operates. We’ve made changes that respond to some of your suggestions and we’ve invited the public to attend our news meetings, to see why we place a certain story on the front page and why another might be on an inside page. When it comes to coverage, we’ve responded with new sections, more stories on topics our readers have told us they are interested in reading about, on people in the area.

We care what you think.

But we can’t, if we are to be a responsible newspaper, publish rumors or gossip. We can’t base our editorial opinions on whose feelings might be hurt or who we might make angry. Editorially it’s pretty simple: If we see something is right, we applaud it. If we see something is wrong, we decry it. That’s the way it has always been and it is the way it will continue to be.

There was no plan, no plot, no conspiracy. There hasn’t been in the past, and there won’t be one in the future. That’s not how this newspaper operates. It’s not even how we think.

We are proud of everyone who works here. We know that each one knows he or she is expected to perform the job with professionalism, to maintain that professionalism even in the face of outright lies or malicious gossip or language that has no place in polite company.

And they do.

There are a lot of campaigns in the community’s future. As with this one just ended, we will work hard to be truthful and thorough.

We will continue to strive to be fair.

We appreciate the same courtesy in return.

Copyright 2006, Anderson Independent Mail. All Rights Reserved.