Ink by the Barrel

I attended a conference a few weeks ago where one of the speakers advised political candidates not to pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel. The topic was "Media Relations," as you may have guessed. Well, I don't believe that the media are above criticism, no matter how much ink they can afford to buy. So here it goes.

Jay Johnson's latest anti-Republican editorial tirade ("Attacks feed voter apathy," August 8, 2006) serves a dual purpose; (1) raise School Board member and DFL Senate District 30 candidate Ann Lynch's unimpressive profile and (2) paint Republicans as a whole with the broad brush of "less-than-admirable side of human behavior."

Mr. Johnson's springboard was an online comment by Duane Quam in which the Olmsted County Republican Party Co-chair chides Lynch for considering her School Board experience an asset in her campaign for the Minnesota senate. Mr. Quam is a critic of the fiscal priorities of the School Board and believes that Lynch is very much a part of the problem, which raises questions as to her qualifications for higher office.

The School Board's "excellent bond rating" and " high marks in overall effectiveness," which Mr. Johnson's editorial touts, were built on the backs of senior citizens on fixed incomes and small business owners. The Board's last property tax increase was enacted the week before Christmas last year. Ho ho ho! I should refrain from making any Ann "Grynch" jokes.

The P-B editorial took Mr. Quam to task for "hit-and-run tactics" and "scorched-earth politics." Never mind that leftist bloggers hiding under the anonimity of monikers such as "coezee" and "211094" routinely use invective, name-calling and even vulgarities in the same forums as Mr. Quam but with impunity.

Mr. Johnson admits that Mr. Quam subsequently sent the P-B an email that had "considerable detail" meant to back up his online comments. The P-B editorial page writer never lists those details, however. The editorial goes on to praise School Board actions and imply that Lynch is responsible for their success.

It looks like the P-B has a dog in this electoral fight.