Reader's Digest Needs Our Help!

I sent this 28 Aug 2007 at 5 pm. I'll add any response I receive.

To the Editors:
I am a subscriber to RD.

It truly disturbs me how RD and other mass media outlets have taken it upon themselves to dictate to the public which candidates are viable and which are not, through the omission of those candidates who are deemed to be unworthy of notice. The editors of RD may rationalize this as a matter of campaign funding but that would suggest that RD only endorses those candidates rich and powerful enough to circumvent campaign contribution laws. Candidates without such means cannot hope to raise the hundreds of millions of dollars it would take to gain the notice of your magazine, depending as they do on small contributions from ordinary individuals. Over one million people would have to donate $100 each in order to come close to matching the funding of a Clinton or Giuliani. Giving up $100 is a hardship for a middle class family, let alone a family who lives paycheck to paycheck.

You have an extensive readership, mostly made up of those same poor and middle class individuals. They are frustrated with government intrusion at all levels of their lives. They are frustrated with RD and other mass media outlets for supporting candidates who will give them more of the same. They long for a leader who will reduce their legal and financial burdens.

In past elections, there was no real choice. Some few candidates promised to reduce the burden but, when elected, never followed through on those promises. In past elections, voters had two choices – bad or worse.

But this election is different. For the first time in my voting lifetime (a 27 year time span) there is a candidate with a proven 20 year track record of defending our rights as guaranteed by our Constitution – a document regarded as the supreme law of the land and which most of our leaders support with their words and subvert with their actions. This candidate is unafraid to speak his mind, even if he knows his audience will disagree – he is not a politician, but a true statesman. He has a large internet following. His supporters are not just a few pimply teenagers spamming websites from their basement – these are real people of all ages, races and classes who make themselves heard. They are not controlled from his headquarters – they are organizing themselves by the tens of thousands to do whatever they can to help him. Many of them have never supported a presidential candidate before and are donating time and money at great personal sacrifice. Many are even switching parties so they can vote for him in the primaries. This candidate's name is Dr. Ron Paul.

Dr. Paul has placed first or second in the last 16 straw polls, yet the mass media remains strangely silent about these accomplishments as well as the Herculean and newsworthy efforts of his supporters, who often travel hundreds of miles at their own expense to spread the word. By omitting Ron Paul from your poll, RD shows its complicity with the rest of the media. Many of his supporters see this strange silence as proof of the dubious dependability of the mass media in general. I myself experienced this phenomenon while listening to talk radio. Hosts, who for years were in favor of limited constitutional government, derided Dr. Paul for promoting the very same principles. Needless to say, I no longer listen to talk radio – I can no longer trust them.

For many years, RD had the largest circulation of any magazine in the world. That circulation has declined due, in some part I believe, to the perception of RD as a stuffy irrelevant rag, in lock-step with the rest of the media. RD now has an opportunity to change that image. RD has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, with the rest of us, to stand for real freedom, for liberty and for the great principles on which the Constitution is based. RD has the power in its hands to make a real difference in this election.

Be unique - Put the word out about Dr. Paul - break the silence.

I went there yesterday, rated all the candidates Zero (see below), and requested Ron Paul be added. I also clicked the "Email the Editors" link under RD.com at the bottom of the page, and sent the following message:

I just participated in your "Election 2008 - Report Card" survey. I rated each of the six clones you presented as a Zero, and suggested that you should also include the only candidate who actually offers something other than "more of the same" -- Ron Paul.

Why not provide a real choice, something different from the panel of clones you now have? Put Ron Paul on the page, and see what happens. You might be surprised.

They insisted on full name & address, which is a pain, but I gave it; if they send me junkmail I'll just stuff it with RP literature and send it back.

The next (Monday) morning I got an email answer from RD:

Thanks for writing us! RD.com's Election page explains that if you think someone other than the politicians we've featured would do well in the White House you are encouraged to send your top write-in choice to Election@rd.com.

Amy
Assistant Editor, RD.com

Here's their main election page: http://www.rd.com/channel.... I don't see the email link on that page, but I guess one could just use the link in the email above. Polite, etc., of course.

I always associate Reader's Digest with my grandparents, who were regular readers. I never discussed politics with them, but I'm sure they were Reagan voters. Getting Ron Paul into Reader's Digest would be huge; I figure it's worth a few minutes to try.

Every single Republican candidate should be included.

Makes me wonder who owns RD. Typical of the mass media leaving out who they deem unfit or not one of theirs.

It is my favorite magazine

i gave them all zeros and put in ron paul. i think its hillarious how they have a link to see what the experts think. first of all, what experts? its clear this a biased poll to pump up the dems. especially barack obomba who the experts gave 3.0 to. give me a break

http://www.rd.com/channel...

I had problems with the link that was directly to it. Try going to this link and click the "Grade the Candidates". Then you'll have the write in.