Ohio Newspaper Drops Gallagher's Column

By: Dave Astor At least one of Maggie Gallagher's 75 newspaper clients has dropped her Universal Press Syndicate column after revelations she received $21,500 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to write marriage-themed material.

In an editorial today, the Middletown (Ohio) Journal wrote that Gallagher's columns "have consistently made compelling arguments for the preservation of the traditional family and the institution of marriage. But when she accepted money to produce government literature -- propaganda, some would say -- as disgraced syndicated columnist Armstrong Williams did on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education and the 'No Child Left Behind' program, she gave her detractors reason to question whether her beliefs are genuine or are for profit. She compromised her integrity, just as Williams did."

The editorial added: "Gallagher acknowledges that she should have disclosed her government contract to the readers of her column. Such disclosure would have enabled readers to decide for themselves whether her opinions were genuine and worth considering, or whether they were bought and paid for. This lapse in judgment has damaged Maggie Gallagher's ability to be considered an independent voice. ... Our readers should never have to wonder whether the columnists we publish are expressing their honest opinions or are being paid to deliver someone else's."

When contacted by E&P, Universal said it's not aware of any other clients dropping Gallagher.