Newspaper Endorsements deserve reality check

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On Nov. 1st, the Janesville Gazette editors endorsed Rep. Mike Sheridan for the 44th state assembly. I thought for a moment, “wow, this IS news, a Democrat,” but after reading the full story, their reasons became increasingly clear. Sheridan also happens to be president of UAW local 95, and it is this corporate connection that the Gazette finds highly desirable in elected public officials. Working-class Americans wanting to change the direction of our country are for the most part trying to end the nexus of corporate/government ties and corruption. So Sheridans ability to play both fields would seem to pose a moral dilemma for principled progressives and Democrats, but the difference between principled politics and Gazette principles are far apart.

Clearly, the Democrat has what it takes to be the man without his connections to the GM plant, but it is also plain to see if he weren’t the Janesville GM union leader, the Gazette would have endorsed Yoss in a heartbeat. However, it is important not to confuse the support for Sheridan as a pro-union endorsement by the paper either. Oddly, I should have sympathy for Yoss, but unfortunately he chose the wrong party platform to believe in. But here appears to be a decent guy running for office and because he has no corporate connections, he gets abandoned by his own self-serving special interests and party supporters. Way to go, Gazette!!

Less surprisingly they endorsed Dave Magnum for the 2nd District over Tammy Baldwin. And like Magnum, they chose to use the Knowlegis congressional ranking system as the centerpiece for their decision.

JG excerpt:
A recent update put her at 394. She can’t use her minority party status as an excuse because Wisconsin Democrat Dave Obey ranks near the top.

It's true that Rep. Obey is ranked in the top ten, but I get the feeling he would not use the ranking in his re-election campaigns simply because the ranking system is more an informational novelty than anything else. But at the time of Magnum's silly ads, 94 of the bottom 100 ranked were Democrats and that is a direct result of the party minority status. Baldwin is right not to take the rankings seriously and smart enough to know that an individual's rank is largely influenced by their party status. Just consider the Gazette’s editorial a week earlier when they gave their annual endorsement of Bush rubberstamp Paul Ryan.

JG excerpt:
If Republicans retain control of Congress, this rising star even has a shot at chairing the House Budget Committee, which sets the agenda for federal taxing and spending goals.

Only the Gazette can have it both ways. Why does it matter whether Ryan is a member of the majority party for this promotion to happen? Being a member of the majority party might catapult Ryan up in the power rankings according to the editors, but Tammy Baldwin has no excuse as a minority Democrat for being ranked lower? If the Democrats take the House, what will be Ryan's excuse for his sliding position in Congress? Suddenly, power ranking surveys won’t matter anymore to the Gazette editors.

Speaking of power crazy, Republican Dave Magnum crashed a Herb Kohl and Tammy Baldwin press rally. Magnum claimed he was invited by Channel 27 News, but 27 said they don’t know what he’s talking about and never invited him. Herb Kohl was commenting about Magnum’s campaign ad that quotes the Democratic senator supposedly ridiculing Baldwin rhetoric as "useless jaw-jacking." With cameras running and mikes turned on Sen. Kohl said he doesn’t know Magnum and never met him, and continued to say that his core values and views coincide with Baldwins. When Kohl left the podium, Magnum stopped Kohl by putting his hand up against his shoulder and introduced himself. They shook hands and Magnum started a rambling conversation about how they agree on some issues, or something on that order. Sen. Kohl was clearly caught off-balance and disturbed by Magnum’s interference. He quickly backed away saying “God bless you.” Here’s some unsolicited advice for Dave Magnum. Get some help – soon!