Covering Babbitt

To the Editors of The Crimson:

I was very disappointed in your coverage of the Marvin Kalb interview with Democratic Presidential candidate Bruce Babbitt. An hour of political dialogue about important public policy issues such as the merits of a progressive national consumption tax, universal needs testing, and a more democratic workplace was completely ignored. What was the centerpiece of the Crimson story? All but the last three paragraphs talked about Hart's re-entry into the race and what Babbitt had to say about it. The topic of Gary Hart was discussed for all of about two minutes of the hour-long interview.

Why weren't the other 58 minutes reported?

I think it is due to the reporter's bias that Babbitt is not a serious candidate. Obviously, his chances really aren't that good, but the story treats Babbitt as if he's not even in the race at all, as if the only thing interesting that Babbitt has to say is his speculation about the other candidates. The story was not responsible. I also read the Boston Globe's story on the Babbitt interview, and it was as if the Globe reporter had attended a different event. Somehow, the Globe reporter was able to write a whole story on Babbitt's policies concerning Gramm-Rudman, taxes, education, abortion, immigration, and foreign policy.

Babbitt has recently been the focus of thoroughly researched stories in such publications as the Washington Post, The New Republic, and Time, to name a few. Even if he drops out of the race soon after lowa, his widely acclaimed public policy ideas are going to live on, and will very likely be integrated into the policies of whoever does receive the Democratic nomination. The Crimson usually reports information, not fluff. It is unfortunate that the exception to this rule was made in reporting about a candidate who has so many interesting things to say. Dan Mufson '91