STEPHEN LEWIS, Post Columnist
Posted: Sunday, November 9, 2008 8:10 am

EDITOR’S NOTE -- The Murfreesboro Post apologizes for any offense generated by Stephen Lewis’ column, “Thanking early voters for getting out of way, Ode to Obama,” (see below) in the Nov. 9, 2008 edition and for the false characterization it has cast on this community,

We sincerely regret that Mr. Lewis’ attempt at humor crossed the line from funny to offensive for many readers.

We are especially regretful that the lone column sends an incorrect message about this newspaper, but more importantly Murfreesboro, Rutherford County and Tennessee, and the people who live therein, including some 40,000 who voted for President-elect Barack Obama.

This community has been notably progressive and open-minded in dealing with racial and diversity issues since the early days of the Civil Rights movement, but that unfortunately is not the perception as a result of Sunday’s column.

We regret that portions of the column proved offensive to so many, but even more so that it has drawn an inaccurate assessment of this community, its people and even its "Red" voters.

In no way attempting to justify or mitigate the situation but to provide some perspective, I would note that Mr. Lewis writes a weekly humor column in which he constantly pushes the envelope with large amounts of sarcasm and hyperbole.

Humor can be a dangerous thing as the line between funny and offensive can be a moving target as was certainly the case in this presidential campaign. In Sunday’s column Mr. Lewis pushed past that line, but only, I honestly and fully believe, in the pursuit of humor.

I would also note Mr. Lewis is not a journalist but a citizen of the community who writes a weekly column, again in his case a humor column.

While not abdicating responsibility for its publication, The Post notes a columnist’s opinion should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or beliefs of the newspaper, its staff, advertisers or the community.

In our editorial Sunday, we wrote, in part:

“Whatever your politics, whomever your presidential candidate preference, we can all take pride in one aspect of Barack Obama’s election Tuesday as the next president of the United States.

“Obama’s victory proves without question the American Dream that any man or woman can rise to the level of his or her own talents and ambitions regardless of birth circumstances.”

For errors of judgment in publication of Mr. Lewis’ column Nov. 9, we apologize for any hurt that may have been generated and the false association for others and again offer our heartfelt apologies. -- Michael L. Pirtle, Publisher, Editor