Whose truth?(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)

Excellent essay ("Un-American" by Michael Massing, CJR, January/February). After the 2004 election, when analysts were trying to figure out how the red and blue states had become so divided, it seemed apparent to me: a huge swath of the country were listening exclusively to conservative talk radio with its relentless demonization of liberals. Worse, though, conservative media have hijacked the truth--either by distorting it to gain an advantage or flat-out lying, as they did about Obama on countless occasions. How can a democracy flourish when we can't even agree on what's true?

Name withheld

Portland, OR

The left-wing media have outlets for their agenda in newspapers and cable shows across America. So where do you get a different viewpoint? Talk radio, where Rush [Limbaugh], Sean [Hannity], and others have never wavered in their quest to speak their minds. When Michael Massing shouts that listening to rightwing is un-American, he is advocating censorship. All Americans have the right to free speech.

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Cho Dan

Kingston, NY

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