The Ulster Herald is a weekly newspaper in the West Tyrone area of Northern Ireland. The paper covered my recent election campaign with several articles, virtually all of which were clearly hostile to my Biblical principles.
They appeared to be delighted when they discovered I was a candidate because they knew they could have fun at my expense!
Incidentally, an Ulster Herald reporter and a photographer from another local paper were waiting for my husband and I as we arrived at the electoral office with my nomination papers, which begs the question, who told them that I was seeking nomination as a candidate? We’ll leave that question hanging in the air. Perhaps the Ulster Herald will enlighten us.
I will now provide examples of the standard of journalism that prevails at this newspaper and the anti-Christian bias that runs like a fault line through it.
On page 6 of the 30th April edition of the Ulster Herald someone called Michael Devlin gives his assessment of the performance of each candidate who took part in the 28th April West Tyrone Decides debate at the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh.
Of my contribution Mr. Devlin had this to say (among other things)
“For entertainment value alone, Mrs.White was a winner – but only on the grounds of the ridiculous.”
On page 7 of the same edition, Mr.Ronan McSherry commented on my 90 second introductory speech with these words,
“Despite the chorus of boos, Mrs.White, who sounds like a Cleudo character, challenged the mind control of our children by the homosexual lobby…”
My response to Mr. McSherry is twofold. There was no chorus of boos when I made my introductory speech and your words demonstrate wishful thinking, Mr. McSherry. You got your wish later in the debate.
Secondly, his remark about me sounding like a Cleudo character made no sense to me so I read a little about the game called Cleudo on the internet. It seems there is a character called Mrs.White in Cleudo. Does this mean that Mr.McSherry thinks that every woman in the world called Mrs.White sounds like a Cleudo character? Somehow I think not, he means me and only me!
In the May 7th edition of the paper, on p.11, they have a section entitled “Facebook Online Feedback” and a comment about me reads as follows,
“This woman I think should keep her awful opinions to herself. Called at a friends door when last canvassing was totally intimidating luckily she met her match and was sent packing. Keep her away from doors is the best policy.
This facebook comment was sent to the paper by someone called Mary Kelly.
My response to “Mary Kelly” is that the comment is nonsense and untrue. My husband accompanied me whilst canvassing and we were neither “totally intimidating” nor “sent packing.”
Notice how the Ulster Herald published the comment by “Mary Kelly” but gave me no right of reply.
On page 17 of the same edition, Mr.Conor Sharkey stated the following,
“This year’s only Independent runner, Susan-Anne White, is right at the other end of the popularity scale though. She has to be admired for having the courage of her convictions but has already been laughed and booed off the stage on several occasions. Mrs.White polled less than 100 votes at her last attempt and could well see that diminish.”
My response to Mr.Sharkey is twofold. Firstly, I have only taken part in two debates at the Strule Arts Centre and I was NOT “laughed and booed off the stage” on either occasion, so what are you talking about Mr.Sharkey?
Secondly, my vote did not diminish, much to your disappointment, I’m sure!
This same man (Conor Sharkey) was on BBC Radio Ulster the morning after the election and spoke of my election campaign which he described as “Biblical not Political” and spoke of my “damp squib” result.
Oh Mr.Sharkey, how hard is it for you to get things right? My campaign slogan was actually “Biblically correct not Politically correct.” You left out the word “correct” and that makes all the difference in the world. Did you leave out the missing word unintentionally or by design?
Finally, in the May 14th edition of the Ulster Herald on p.9, a Mr. Alan Rodgers wrote a short article about my blog post in which I thanked the 166 people who voted for me. He spelt the word “principles” incorrectly (as in Biblical principles) spelling it this way “principal” and he concluded his piece with an emphasis on the number of votes I received.
He stated that, “The total number of votes cast for Mrs.White was the lowest number polled in the West Tyrone Constituency since 1992 when Robert Johnstone of the Natural Law Party recorded a tally of 92.”
Note how they emphasise my result of 166 votes but they have little to say about the 169 votes for the Conservative candidate Claire – Louise Leyland because they don’t want people to dwell on the fact that only three votes separated us. They want people to remember that I came last!
Another deeply disturbing matter is obvious in the May 14th edition and it is their positive reporting of the pro-cannabis party CISTA. They have no condemnation for the voters who voted for CISTA (528 of them) and on p.3 they have an article about the CISTA candidate entitled, “Pro-drug party records best result in West Tyrone.” This article is in addition to their pro-drug front page story entitled, “Cannabis medicine helping pensioner.”
It should be obvious to all who read this post that the Ulster Herald is anti-Biblical Christianity, pro-homosexual and now apparently, soft on drugs!
Remember these things the next time you buy this newspaper!
They may also have a hotline to the local police because they reported that the police are investigating the comments I made at the Strule Arts Centre, so they know more than I do, because the police have not spoken to me but it seems that they have spoken to the Ulster Herald about me. Is it possible that someone in the Police Service of Northern Ireland is “feeding” information to the media.
It is disgraceful that the Police have spoken to the Ulster Herald and not to me!
The Truth Shall Set You Free 