Here's a LTE I submitted to the Pittsburgh Trib in early September, but they didn't select it for printing.  Like many LTEs, its inspiration was something I got in the mail.  Instead of "mixed messages" I wanted to do a "Dr. Jeykell, Mr. Hyde" thing with McCain, but I couldn't figure out how to say it the right way, so I went with what I had.

Mark

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Dear Editor:

My inboxes overflow with mixed McCain messages. 

In my postal mailbox I received a flyer from the McCain campaign. It talks about John McCain’s admirable military service to the nation. It emphasizes his lifelong commitment to duty, honor and country. 

It also contained voter applications for absentee ballots pre-addressed to the county Director of Elections. 

In my email inbox I received a media release from the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPa). It talks about a Pennsylvania Republican Party official who filed suit to remove Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr from the ballot. 

The release says the suit apparently objects to the process of substituting Bob Barr for the LPPa presidential nominee. The LPPa nominee withdrew and the official substitution committee substituted Barr per party bylaws and state election laws.

Voter ballot applications.  Candidate ballot denial. 

John McCain should move quickly to insure that alternate candidates are afforded the same protection, respect and opportunity as his running mate.  If not, then this could just be the Republican’s “Ballotgate” to one-up the Democrat’s “Bonusgate.”

Mark Crowley
Plum