The New York Times Syndicate raised the hackles of the nation's editorial writers last month by proposing to charge newspapers for an essay on health care by President Obama.

A slew of complaints from the editorial writers about having to pay for a sitting president's words prompted the syndicate to quickly reverse its policy and make the essay available for free.

The whole issue started Monday morning (8/17) with a memo from the syndicate offering newspapers the opportunity to republish the president's essay, “Why We Need Health Care Reform.”

The essay was being offered at a starting price of $125 for papers with less than 50,000 circulation, higher for papers with bigger circulations.

The objection to the charge from editorial writers was swift and pointed.

“Our president works for us, and the words he or his speech writers write, as far as I'm concerned, are public records -- they should be available for free,” wrote one writer on the National Conference of Editorial Writers' list serve.

“It's a travesty of a mockery of a sham,” wrote another editorial page editor. “And I'd bet if you get a transcript of his Saturday radio address from the White House, it will be substantially the same.”

Another editor sarcastically pitched a copy of the Gettysburg Address to member newspapers. “Send checks to me, made out to cash.”

Larry Reisman of the Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers in Florida jumped in for the NCEW and spoke to a representative at the syndicate later Monday.

After hearing the opinion writers' concerns, the syndicate decided Monday night to withdraw the fee and offer refunds to papers that purchased it.