From: David Blaska
Sent: Saturday, March 20, 2010 2:13 PM
To: John Smalley, editor Wisconsin State Journal
Subject: biased coverage of Scott Walker
Mr. Smalley,
I encourage you and your news editors to more thoroughly examine the coverage Scott Bauer of the Associated Press is providing of the Scott Walker race and his infatuation with the Democrat(ic) attack dog, Scot Ross of One Wisconsin Now. [Blaska's Blog: that's two Scotts and one Scot.]
Saturday's edition (March 20) carries a rather lengthy story on page A5 headlined "Walker's brown bag gimmick isn't new."
To which, I can only say, SO WHAT?!So it was used in Ohio 12 years ago. Big whup. Then there is the pejorative language: twice the word "gimmick" is used. This is not a news story, Mr. Smalley, it is a political attack piece wormed onto the news pages by an operative for the Democrat(ic) party through a complaisant AP writer and lax news editors at your paper.
The Wisconsin State Journal carried a similar story on-line on March 16.That political hit job posing as a "news" story posing carries this hyper-biased comment: "And for as much as Walker talks about brown bagging his lunch every day, an AP review of campaign finance records revealed that Walker's campaign has spend nearly $25,000 on food and beverages across the state since mid-2008."
... Here is the lede of the March 14 story found on-line at another outlet. It read:
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Republican Scott Walker wants supporters of his campaign for governor to join his "brown bag movement" to show how serious he is about cutting government waste and spending.Someone ought to tell his campaign about it.
Can you honestly tell me that language is not terribly biased? That's three hit pieces in a week's time chewing over the same small bone.
... AP writer Scott Bauer compared [Walker's food expenses] unfavorably to Tom Barrett's campaign, conveniently using 18 months of expenditures from Walker to only 6 months from Barrett. All while failing to note ... that campaigns fundraisers are held at eating places.I'll quote Badger Blogger here:
"Using the AP's own numbers, a savvy reader might note that $24,500.00 spent over 547.5 days shakes out to $44.75 per day, and $10,000.00 spent over 182.5 days (on the Barrett campaign) would be $54.79 per day.So why isn't the headline 'Barrett outspends Walker on food?' "
At the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Patrick McIlerhan writes:
And (pant, pant!): "The campaign also paid forWalker's meals at Subway locations 15 times in a four-month span.Golly. So Walker's a cheapskate on his own eats and generous to campaign volunteers. I'm so scandalized."
... Mr. Smalley, this political hit job is the worst since Rich Eggleston wrote for the AP (when he wasn't sitting on Dave Travis' lap at the old Argus.) It's got the pettiness of Scot Ross and his One Wisconsin (when do we want it?) Now group written all over it.
Sure enough, Saturday (March 20th) article thoughtfully serves up another cynical quotation from Ross.
... I suggest taking a look at The Hispanic Conservative's take on this. I'll be doing something on this very soon on my own blog. I would appreciate a response.
The State Journal responds
From:John Smalley JSmalley@madison.com>
Subject:RE: biased coverage of Scott Walker
Date:March 23, 2010 6:09:55 PM CDT
To:David Blaska
Cc: Jason Adrians JAdrians@madison.com>, Teryl Franklin TFranklin@madison.com>
Thanks for your note, and the points about the AP coverage of Scott Walker. I don't presume to know all the details about the APreporting on Walker but, at minimum, you raise an interesting point.I've copied in a couple other folks here for their consideration as well. If we feel the need we'll do additional follow-up with AP. Meanwhile, I appreciate your input.
Best wishes,
John Smalley
Editor
Wisconsin State Journal
Gosh, I wonder why?
From: Veldran, Lisa
Sent: Friday, March 26, 2010 2:39 PM
To: ALL ALDERS
Subject: Staff Absence
I will be out of the office starting Monday, March 29 through Wednesday, April 7, 2010.
Please contact Debbie Fields for assistance during my absence.
Thank you.
Lisa Veldran, Administrative Assistant
Madison Common Council Office
210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard
Room 417
Hint: Could it have something to do with an upcoming County Board election?
Check it out
One of best web sites I've seen in some time belongs to Sean Duffy. He is one of the "Young Guns" whom many in the party think can beat Dave Obey, the old-style New Deal anachronism and the author of the boondoggle $787 billion "stimulus" package, in northwestern Wisconsin.
Buyer's remorse?
Think about it, the President of the U.S. has now embarked on a nationwide speaking tour to tell a program that he has already signed into law. Woodrow Wilson went coastal trying to sell the League of Nations but that was to sell Congress. I'm trying to think of a precedent but (to channel Curley) nuttin's happenin'.
Obamacare is doing worse in the polls this week than ever. Even friendly CNN found 59% of the country opposed. That poll and others consistently find that most people understand the scheme will worsen their own fiscal lot and that it does nothing to slow the rise in health care prices. This is why the president and his party will spend the months before the election reselling their plan to you. They are trying to stave off nationwide buyer's remorse. They do not want you thinking about alternatives.
Tea is served
The Tea Party Express is coming to Madison Tuesday, April 6, at a location to be determined. It's part of a 44-stop "Vote Them Out Tour" that started today in Harry Reid's Nevada hometown and concludes tax day, April 15, in Washington, D.C.