Newspaper Attempting To Malign Sheridan

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"IF Sheridan’s date were a lobbyist working to crush the payday loan industry or at the least enact very tight payday loan regulations, would folks be more or less enraged by his relationship? Would this even be news? I seriously doubt it. Is the outrage strictly political or is it about corruption? Wisconsin’s windmill regulations and the video competition act were all heavily lobbied. Minds were changed, otherwise why would there be lobbyists?"

When I first saw the Saturday's Janesville Gazette front page headline, "Sheridan: It's Not A Conflict" I immediately thought of Wisconsin Supreme Court Judges Annette Ziegler and Michael Gableman.

The Gazette obviously, has shifted into high gear with their "investigation" into rumors delving into the private life of the Wisconsin Democrat. In multiple articles including this posting, they malign the legislator even further by painting him as ducking the issue and implying special interest favors are effecting his legislative position. The writer of the Gazette blog demands Sheridan return his call, he writes...

JG Blog Excerpt:
"Representative Sheridan, I left a message for you yesterday. I sure hope I get a return call. Better yet, stop by my dad's place next time you visit your dad. They live across the street from each other. If you have the time I'll stop up too. I'm not a professional lobbyist. I'm a citizen with a concern. A concern that you might allow this parasite industry to grow."

Thank goodness no one else is concerned, right?

But there's a problem. If you're asking the legislator as a concerned citizen, why are you doing it under the umbrella of the newspaper? Are you asking the legislator as a concerned citizen or as a journalist working for the Janesville Gazette? Do you intend to weaponize Sheridan's remarks or lack of remarks in another blog posting under the umbrella of the Gazette? IF so, you are a lobbyist working for the Janesville Gazette applying the same pressure tactics legislators see everyday. You're part of the problem.

Should Sheridan respond to the Gazette blog any differently than he would if he received the message in a phone call, email or letter from a concerned citizen? I should think not. The line begins at the back.

If folks think Sheridan has a conflict of interest, they'll have to prove a quid pro quo took place. Rumors won't do. But remember, legislators owe no conscience of impartiality into their decisions or votes, not like judges do. Yet the Wisconsin Supreme Court allows judges to hear the court cases of donors to their campaigns. Where was the Front-page headline outrage from the Gazette?

Two years ago, it was "rumored" Rep. Brett Davis accepted a $4 million state earmark for a soybean crusher study in his district in exchange for a vote on the state budget. The Gazette defended Davis, saying Democrats would love to claim his seat in the legislature. Great reason! There were no articles from the Gazette attempting to substantiate the Davis rumor. Davis of course is a Republican.

The newspaper is clearly spinning it's wheels on Sheridan hoping to gain some traction before the engine burns out. It has reached the point where every article they publish on government or politicians carries with it a bias or an underlying goal. Their steady pace of inconsistencies has stripped away all the credibility that is required of open and honest objective journalism. As a citizenry, we are the ones to end up losing.

Note: This posting is the independent perspective and opinion of it's author.

Video - Obama Meets With Republicans

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Story Excerpt:
Americans "don't want us to focus on our job security," Obama said. "They want us to focus on their job security."

Rep. Paul Ryan was permitted to ask a couple of questions and even attempted to walk Obama through the wrongheaded line-item veto legislation. The President had the courtesy to give Ryan the chance to engage, something that Ryan himself won't extend to his own constituents.

"What happens is that you guys don't have a lot of room to negotiate with me," Obama said. "The fact of the matter is, many of you, if you voted with the administration on something, are politically vulnerable with your own base, with your own party, because what you've been telling your constituents is, 'This guy's doing all kinds of crazy stuff that's going to destroy America.'

As far as Obama is concerned, Paul Ryan should be radioactive.

Additional Racine Post story on event.

More: Obama Dominates meeting.

Video Competition Act A Boon For AT & T

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This would be a joke if it weren't on us. Remember the fly-by-night front group TV4US? Here's their link, go ahead and click it Ha - hah. The only remaining sign of the astroturf group is now just a wiki-page at Source Watch, and thank goodness for that. Still waiting for the promised 45% drop in cable rates? Don't hold your breath.

AT & T is raking it in. TV4US's job is done. Mission Accomplished!!

Capital times Excerpt:
AT&T said its revenue from U-verse TV, Internet and voice services nearly tripled over 2009 and is approaching an annual run rate of $3 billion, Multichannel.com reported.

Related: Media Censors Competition December, 2006

The Opportunities Of A Serious Rumor

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This is pretty pathetic, even for the Gazette. The newspaper chopped and channeled an AP article about unscrupulous lobbyists spreading rumors in Madison to unfairly characterize Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan as politically vulnerable and defensive. The newspaper of course played down the two dozen paid liars (lobbyists) and played up the legislator as potentially effected by influence.

Regardless of its rumored source, the "rumor" does not appear to work to the advantage of the lobbyists as much as it baited opponents to tear Sheridan down a notch. Still, Sheridan's position and the payday lender legislation will be closely watched.

Just a few days earlier, the Gazette belly-ached accusing politicians of playing loose with the facts in their press releases. I suppose when you’re a newspaper incapable of publishing full and unadulterated facts, why let a serious rumor go to waste? It's a blameless fact.

Read full AP story, here, it begins...

MADISON, Wis. — Democratic Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan on Thursday accused opponents of increasing payday loan regulation of starting rumors that he was going to be removed from power.

Obama SOTU: Just Saying "No" is Not Leadership

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State Of The Union

ABC News Transcript Excerpt:

"But what frustrates the American people is a Washington where every day is Election Day. We cannot wage a perpetual campaign where the only goal is to see who can get the most embarrassing headlines about their opponent – a belief that if you lose, I win. Neither party should delay or obstruct every single bill just because they can. The confirmation of well-qualified public servants should not be held hostage to the pet projects or grudges of a few individual Senators. Washington may think that saying anything about the other side, no matter how false, is just part of the game. But it is precisely such politics that has stopped either party from helping the American people. Worse yet, it is sowing further division among our citizens and further distrust in our government.

So no, I will not give up on changing the tone of our politics. I know it's an election year. And after last week, it is clear that campaign fever has come even earlier than usual. But we still need to govern. To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve some problems, not run for the hills. And if the Republican leadership is going to insist that sixty votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it's not leadership. We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions. So let's show the American people that we can do it together."
-- President Barack Obama

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"Peoples" historian and Progressive Leader Howard Zinn Dies

Can't wait to hear FNC media stooge and idiot-baiting sociopath Glenn Beck's eulogy.

Rock County Awarded $2.3 Million Worker Grant

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Department Of Labor Excerpt:
"With these funds announced today, the administration will have provided more than $6 million in National Emergency Grants to support workers hardest hit by auto layoffs in Rock County over the past 15 months," said Dr. Edward Montgomery, executive director of the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers. "The president and the administration remain committed to supporting auto communities and helping these workers find new jobs."

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor's discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state's ability to meet specific guidelines. Question is - Will Congressman Paul Ryan file a grievance against this grant?

Pretense, Prudes and Pollyanna's

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PRETENSE
The editors of the Janesville Gazette of all people, gave a thumbs down to politicians who in their view play loosely with the facts in their press releases.

In one example they poked at Sen. Herb Kohl's office for stating that Rock and Kenosha counties will share in a $6 million federal grant when in fact all Wisconsin counties can participate in the Green jobs training and apprenticeship grant. Not a very huge error considering the former manufacturing counties appreciate anything they can get since our congressman, Paul Ryan, throws nickels around like they're manhole covers.

No doubt it was only wishful thinking on Kohl's part. Thank you Senator!

The Gazette was also offended by state Republicans when they referred to the loss of 153 jobs at Janesville's Sanford B2B as "Parker Pen" jobs. Another harmless misstep since Parker Pen (founded 1888) went through numerous buy-out transitions before settling in as Sanford. But who could blame the repub's for this memory gap since their sundials have been stuck since the turn of the 20th century. The Gazette editors conclude "If politicians can't get simple facts right, why should we trust their promises?" They should talk.

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PRUDES
From the Gazette's anonymous "Sound Off" column...

On Sportsmanship
"Regarding poor behavior at high school games, booing is offensive and low class. Let's have parents and teachers record the names of those booing and result in a lecture and punishment the next day at school and at home...."

Cheer me, applaud me. I command it, or I'll tell on you...I swear I'll tell.

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POLLYANNA'S
Why does a Democratic majority in the Senate require 60 when Republicans need only 41?

Same Story, Different Newspaper, Different Ending

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I normally don't write about local newspaper article's that are as reasonably unbiased as can be given whatever unusual circumstances that may apply, simply because fair and balanced articles can stand on their own merits. Who needs a media watching blogger over-complicating reality?

So I have to admit, I was a little surprised by the balance exhibited in the Beloit Daily News article about the complaints leveled against Jenifer Keach, the Rock County coroner. The newspaper wrote a report as honest as can be given the the possible influence and negative tone spun up earlier by the Janesville Gazette.

The BDN reported on the allegations as they should. They reported on the county's findings and they gave the coroner a chance to catch her breath and explain her side. That the coroner's office is participating in team building and communication exercises also means everyone, including the coroner, is taking a interactive approach and not in denial. This is how responsive management professionals should react to problems. You can never be too professional.

By comparison, what the newspaper did not do was most striking. The BDN did not attempt to discredit the coroner, nor did they exaggerate the allegations or undermine the coroner's response. Neither did they paint the event as a springboard to restart the newspaper's crusade to wrest the office away from the voters.

In other words, it's simply a news article without any hidden connotations.

Kudos to the BDN.

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Gazette Runs Opinion Columns Without Op-ed Attribution

Saturday's Janesville Gazette front page contained a picture of candidate Tom Barrett next to the statement "Gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett remains loyal to President Barack Obama," in the header of the newspaper. This was posted without attribution as a lead-in to Page 2 where the story, a politically driven op-ed written by Mike Nichols (Badger Diggings), was masqueraded as a news article by the Gazette. Saturday's op-ed section began on Page 6.

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