Herald unfairly criticizes Obama

Thank you for your "Idea No. 1" on Page 1 of the Jan. 5 paper: "Learn more about your next leaders than about Paris Hilton."

Right next to that noble idea is the headline "What health care?" and a clipped quote from Barack Obama.

The second paragraph of the article quotes the complete sentence from which the clipped quote was taken.

So, you used a clipped quote to imply that Obama claims Illinois has universal health care. Then in the article, you include more of the quote that makes clear that he did not imply what you assert.

You made up a nothing story that misinformed by choice, using part of a quote and running with it. The rest of the article pursues reactions to either the quote or the clipped quote, I can't be sure which one. And you put it on the front page.

There is much noise in the media that a consumer has to try to get past to get to substance about issues that matter to our lives. We need articles that clarify, inform, educate and enlighten about out next leaders. We do not need more articles adding to the din.

We need our newspapers to help us learn more about our next leaders than about Paris Hilton. That should be Idea No. 1.

Richard Godek

Hoffman Estates