Getting the issues out

Regarding your April 20 editorial "The issue with those ads":

Republican state Reps. Richard Morgan and Rick Eddins voted for and supported the politically corrupt Democrat Jim Black for House speaker. Morgan is using Mike Weisel, the former Wake County Democratic Party chairman, as his attorney in filing a complaint with the State Board of Elections to silence the Republican Legislative Majority of North Carolina, an independent "527" organization. While The N&O would fiercely defend its own First Amendment rights, it has joined Morgan, Eddins and the Democrats in criticizing RLM's issue advocacy.

RLM did indeed send out mailings giving information on specific legislative votes by Morgan, Eddins and a few other Republicans in support of Democratic Speaker Black's agenda, including such issues as a $1 billion tax increase and spending of pork barrel slush funds. Yes, RLM believes that Republicans Morgan and Eddins "went to bat for the wrong team" (the Democratic Party), and so will the citizens when they see their legislative votes.

My company and RLM have fully complied with North Carolina law. If disclosing and debating an incumbent legislator's voting record is not issue advocacy and free speech, then what is? Should incumbents be able to shield themselves from criticism because they are also candidates? In North Carolina, all citizens, not just newspapers, are still free to criticize their legislators.

Art Pope

President, Variety Wholesalers, Inc.

Raleigh