In Vt., more outpouring than outrage

YOUR ARTICLE about local and national reaction to five Vermont towns' call to impeach President Bush tells half the story (''Small town provokes big outrage," Page A1, March 18). While reporting about irate calls and e-mails sent to Newfane, Jenna Russell neglected to mention the even greater volume of calls of support that came from across the nation, many from Republicans, veterans, and people who took pains to explain that they were not activists or ''lefties" but were citizens who were invigorated to hear that some towns were willing to call this administration to task.

Nor did she take a look at the letters that have flooded the local daily newspaper, supporting the resolution and validating its consideration in the first place, in response to one letter decrying our action.

What this resolution provoked is not outrage but discussion. People are taking the time to consider whether impeachment is a viable or reasonable response to the president's actions. It was not the backlash that surprised me -- I had expected a moderate negative response. The surprise was the intense interest that this resolution has generated within the mainstream media. Our call for impeachment has resonated across the nation. We would be better served if the Globe focused on the questions raised rather than a few irate responses.

DAN DeWALT
Newfane, Vt.

The writer is a town selectman who proposed the vote on impeachment.