THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 

                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 5, 1994                    TAG: 9406030014 
SECTION: COMMENTARY                     PAGE: C4    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: Medium 
DATELINE: 940605                                 LENGTH:

BARNES DOING A GREAT JOB

{LEAD} Why is it that when a Democrat disagrees with someone's opinion, he attacks the individual rather than the idea? Mr. Barnes is more conservative than the previous editor, but this doesn't make him unfit to be editor.

Ken Geroe (letter, May 18) said we shouldn't rush to judge Mr. Barnes, but he sure did. It appears he is upset because Mr. Barnes doesn't bring a balanced approach.

{REST} It appears to me the definition of a balanced approach, according to the Democrats, is agreeing with them. I challenge anybody to find evidence in Mr. Barnes' editorials that he is poorly informed. I believe he is very well-informed and has his facts straight.

Just because he is from Michigan doesn't mean he is wrong in his opinion on local issues.

It is also important to note that a Pulitzer should be awarded on a person's work, not his opinion. Just because David B. Lawrence Jr. (letter, May 24) disagrees with Mr. Barnes' opinions doesn't mean Mr. Barnes will never get a Pulitzer.

John Barnes is doing a great job. I commend The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star for their hiring of Mr. Barnes.

JAMES D. LAMBETH

Virginia Beach, May 25, 1994

\ \ It's like a breath of fresh air to finally have a conservative emphasis in the editorial section.

We're bombarded daily by the liberal/socialist spin in the vast majority of the mainstream media.

Hampton Roads is a conservative area that appreciates the ``truth.'' We particularly enjoyed the ``real'' story view ``Welfare reform or welfare rhetoric?'' by Jim Wright and the editorial ``Homeless hype'' pointing out the liberal ``spin'' on homelessness in America (May 25).

The liberal/socialist goal is to make government as large as possible to further their agenda and keep them in power. They need to control/redistribute the wealth of the producers to the non-producers in order to ensure the non-producers' vote.

Editorial page editor John Barnes is doing a great job. Keep up the good work, and let freedom ring.

GERALD F. LEE

DOROTHY A. LEE

Chesapeake, May 26, 1994

\ \ Regarding the advent of editorial-page editor John Barnes and columnist Thomas Sowell to The Virginian Pilot and The Ledger-Star: Thank you, thank you, thank you. It's been a long, dry spell for conservatives.

SALLY A. COLE

Virginia Beach, May 30, 1994

\ \ This is a letter applauding your recent selection of John A. Barnes as the editorial page editor. It is quite refreshing to get a viewpoint from the local editorials that I can agree with. Keep up the good work!

JAMES P. MURRAY

Virginia Beach, May 25, 1994 by CNB