Dear FRONTLINE

I have been following this years race for presidency closely through the media, and I have to say that your show tonight was the most tasteful presentation of the two candidates I have seen yet.

I grow tired of the "in your face debates" on FOX and other related networks about how crooked politicians are. Like it or not, these are our selected candidates and we have to make an educated decision as a Country in Novemeber as to whom we are going to elect. Frontline presented facts about the candidate's history that frankly I was to lazy to investigate, and did so in a manner that allowed us to reflect deeper on our decision that lies ahead. Tomorrow night I will be watching the debates with a better understanding of the men behind the podiums and the voice behind their policies.

Henry Lange
Valdese, NC

Dear FRONTLINE

I was very disappointed in your program just aired, "The Choice 2000." First of all, I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican, but I felt the program tonight was so very biased against Al Gore. You spent minutes discussing the "pot" problem re Gore and nowhere was there a mention about the cocaine unanswered questions re Bush. You had comments re Gore from a "friend" whose own life seemed so ladden with problems that his credibality seemed somewhat suspect and from a political person who probably has an axe to grind with the present administration. Yet Bush's commentators were a Republican strategist who worked for his father and persons working in his present campaign. You called into question Gore's motives for speaking about his son and sister, yet you don't question Bush's reason for involvement in the baseball team purchase and the fact that many were left with money owed while Bush made millions. I don't feel this was an ojbective report, and I found it very disturbing coming from a public broadcasting station.

Phyllis Herman

Dear FRONTLINE

Why doesn't anyone ask Texan's why we love George Bush. Why didn't your program show where Bush's enormous strenghths actually lie in his management skills and business sense. Your program looked as if you are biased in favor of Gore. I am very angry about your program. I began watching the show with great expectations, only to feel like I was being slapped in the face.

Bush has been behind all of the tort reform that has freed our state to become 9th largest economy in the world. He has held firm on reducing corporate state taxes so that Texas is a haven for new jobs. The list goes on and on.

Katherine Konda
Arlington, Tx

Dear FRONTLINE

WOW! In the span of two hours I am throughly educated in the liberal bias of the media. I thought that this program would give me an accurate representation of the candidates. I believed that I would get a non partisan history from PBS. I expected no less. I can not describe how disappointed I am in your resulting bias.
You portrayed Al Gore as a son who never failed to do his parents bidding. And while I do not see this as a positive point, your program, nevertheless, managed to put a positive spin on almost every action Gore took. Even his truth stretchinga quirk, illegal drug use, campaign fund raisingsolicitor, and posturing was somehow seen in good light. I point to the narrators voice, friends descriptions, and happy music. While every action Bush took was accented by a voice dripping in disdain, mocking words what would Bush do when he grew up as opposed to Gore's plan re-calculation, and unflattering images. I make no excuse for Bush's younger years. But I would have appreciated a program that looked impartially at Bush's achievements in office. The same actions Gore did by embracing key Republican issues to help him win his bid for Congress are looked upon negatively by your program when Bush "charms" his way into the Democratic Texas Congress and manages to secure bi-partisan support. If this program really wanted to aid voters in their choice, perhaps it should have had a more neutral editing team.

Debora Meskell
Rock Hill, MO

Dear FRONTLINE

Boy, you didn't pull any punches for either candidate! I'm a Democrat and likely to vote for Al Gore, but some things on the show about Gore gave me pause. About the time I felt compelled to, at least, pay attention to the part about George W. Bush, you unloaded on him, too. The show took some of the certainty out of my election day plans. Congratulations on a fair and impartial show.

Donald J. Wood
Albion, Illinois

Dear FRONTLINE

Why is it that the media refuse to address the substantive aspects of candidates? Over and over, I hear about personalities, campaign strategies, who is up and who is down in the polls, popularity, etc. What people need to know to make intelligent decisions at the polls is candidates' experience, what policies they have pushed, where they've succeeded and failed, what powerful interests are supporting them, etc. Why do you and all the media out there continue to force feed us this fluff?!! Truly, I don't understand.

Ruth Newman
Louisville, KY

Dear FRONTLINE

This is the first time I have been disappointed with one of your programs. Your sanitized, romanticized look at the two so-called major candidates only reinforced my impression that they are two barely distinguishable politicians. Perhaps this program would have better been called, "The Non-Choice."

Chris Kirkham
St. Cloud, MN

Dear FRONTLINE

Why did your show take the most critical possible line on Gore, while barely touching on the many shady business deals in Bush's past? It may have been impossible to attain any real depth in just two hours, but the lack of evenness in your tone was more than disappointing. I'm not objecting to the darkness of your vision of Gore per se, but to the lack of balance, which could have been so readily attained through a more objective view of Bush, less based on the imagery of his family's old home movies. Certainly the material is out there.

Whit Blauvelt
Brooklyn, NY

Dear FRONTLINE

I just wanted to say that I thought that you all did a very good job of profiling both of the candidates in a manner that was not partisan. You illuminated who these two individuals are in a way that the more traditional media decline to do in this era of bitter partisan politics. It's nice to finally know a little bit about where these two men come from and what they have been doing for the past fifty years. Thanks.

Dave Grindle
North Olmsted, OH

Dear FRONTLINE

This would have been an excellent program if it hadn't been limited to two candidates. Why isn't equal time given to those who also represent the American public from other platforms? I am disappointed that such a quality station would choose to be so slanted.

Janet Autenrieth
Tampa, FL

Dear FRONTLINE

Fabulous broadcast!! This is the first time I have seen the candidates shown in an incredibly accurate and real way. Thank you so much. I am thrilled to have my intuitions about GW Bush to be confirmed. He is so honest and true to himself --- not wondering who to be so people will want to elect him, the way I see Al Gore. I so much appreciate your program.
My vote for GW is definitely confirmed!!

Beverly Rohman
Perrysburg, OH

Dear FRONTLINE

I believe your program Bush/Gore life stories would have had more validity if you tried to have an independant source prepare the video. Your bias towards Albert Gore is a serious flaw to your "reporting".

Dan MacIsaac
canton, ma

Dear FRONTLINE

...our one sided charcter assasination of G. W. Bush is beyond the pale!

You present yourselves as impartial but you bias is overwhelmingly apparent. all your selves neutral!

I will never give PBS a dime and I will no longer watch your programs. You do not deserve federal funds, and should instead be forced to survive from private donations; most likely from organizations that espouse your leftest agenda.

Thanks! You've made it clear to me that I need to vote for Bush as opposed to third party.

Robert Eickelberger
Cincinnati, OH

Dear FRONTLINE

I am watching your program in stunned disbelief. In particular, teachers were interviewed and say disparaging things about Mr. Gore. What sort of teachers are these? No teachers of George W. are interviewed. Instead his faternity brothers give their opinions. Much time was spent on Gore's use of marijuana. Little on George W.'s use of the more dangerous cocaine. Even as children, Gore is described by his older sister's friend. Bush by friends his own age. The word elite is used to describe Gore. Not Bush. He is depicted as practically lower middle class. Charm is used to describe Bush. Wooden and being guided by his intellect rather than his heart are some descriptions attached to Gore. JFK is also described as charming. Adlai Stevenson is described as the intellectual. While Bush's military service is described there are fighter planes shown. Gore is never shown in Viet Nam but only campaigning with his father along with the voiceover explaining he volunteered for political reasons. To quote a song used in your piece "Something's happening here . . . What it is ain't exactly clear." What is going on a pbs? I expect more even-handedness from you. What have you got against Mr. Gore?

janet alfieri