Editor, The Commercial:
Your “news” item titled Voters to decide primary races in 1st, 4th congressional districts, contained one glaring and unfair omission. In reporting the military record of Tom Cotton, you mentioned he was a veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. However, in reporting on John Cowart, you only mentioned the “Persian Gulf War of the early 1990s.” That was biased and incorrect and warrants correction. Even the most basic candidate research would have shown he served FOUR (count em, FOUR) combat zone tours. Cowart served in Operation Southern Watch in Kuwait in 1997, Operation Desert Fox in Kuwait in 1998, Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq in 2007 (as an infantry company commander); and in January he returned from Afghanistan where he served in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Your reporting also neglected to mention that although she ran against an entrenched, well-funded opponent, and “lost to Ross,” Beth-Ann Rankin made an impressive showing by carrying something like 27 counties with (I am not sure about this) close to 45 percent of the vote.
For the record, I am not supporting, favoring or endorsing any candidate on the Republican Primary Election ballot. What I am in favor of is putting an end to shoddy reporting that favors one candidate over another.
Stuart Soffer
White Hall