Surely the Courier-Journal’s editorial board made a simple mistake when excluding Lisa Moxley, Democratic candidate for mayor, from its endorsement interviews.
Moxley faired better than Shannon White in the paper’s own poll. Yet White was interviewed and Moxley was not. So I can’t really cry sexism.
It’s no secret, according to C-J writers, that the paper is leaning toward an endorsement of David Tandy. So no one can play the race card.
So I’m left wondering… Why wasn’t Lisa Moxley included?
What gives? Why is the editorial board allowing negative perception to overshadow the endorsement process?
Surely this is just a simple mistake and I don’t have to pop a vein.
Sure, the ed board is excluding Connie Marshall and Burrell Farnsley, but those two are clearly of the exotic crazy level of reality. And Jonathan Robertson on the Republican side is being excluded. Crazy, unknown, whatever… don’t these folks deserve equal consideration?
The editorial board has not responded to our requests for clarification.
Here’s what several candidates and their campaigns had to say on the matter when questioned by me this afternoon…
Read the rest after the jump…
Chris Thieneman: “Every Candidate should be given the opportunity to be heard. Every forum that has been held this year has been open to each and every candidate. A lot of good ideas have come from those forums. By only hearing from a few, the idea is given that only the opinions of a few matter. We need to listen to everyone. One of us will be the next mayor, the people of Louisville have a right to hear from each candidate.”
Kudos to Thieneman for being the first to stand up for what’s right.
I’ll update this story as candidates and campaigns respond with statements. A couple have already expressed reservations about criticizing the Courier-Journal. So those who don’t respond? I think we’ll know right away where their priorities happen to be.
Tyler Allen: “As a matter of fairness, I believe all of the candidates in the race for mayor deserve the same opportunity to have their voices heard. Therefore, I believe that all candidates should be interviewed and given equal consideration by the Courier-Journal Editorial Board. “
From Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo’s spokesperson: “Daniel believes that it is only fair any editorial board interviewing candidates for endorsement should consider all candidates.”
From Jim King’s campaign: “Councilman King strongly believes that everyone should invited and involved in the political process. This is a debate for the future of Louisville and everyone should be included.”
Larry Hausman: “In a free society, all properly registered candidates should be given the same opportunity to get their message to the people.”
Where is Jack Conway?
Where is Steve Beshear?
Where is Shannon White?
Where is Greg Fischer?
Where is Hal Heiner?
Where is David Tandy?
Where is Jerry Abramson?
Where is Trey Grayson?
Where is Rand Paul?
It’s been 5 hours. Appears the candidates that haven’t responded – even though they’ve discussed it with me, expressing concerns of “pissing off” the ed board – don’t care about resolving the mess this country, and specifically this city, is in.
9 responses so far ↓
1 Ed Springston // Mar 17, 2010 at 3:10 pm
This is nothing new sadly. For months I was ignore dand not given any voice when I ran in 2006. The changing point was the Louisville NAACP live debate. They were the first to allow me an equal voice. Followed by WLKY’s John Boel moderating their debate.
After that I was allowed equal access everywhere but by then it was late in the race and there was no way to gte my message heard in time to make any real difference.
I would not have won anyway but perhaps by allowing an equal voice from the very beginning maybe more would have gotten involved in the process and been informed.
The CJ has always had their own agenda and have just proven once again why no one takes them as serious anymore.
2 Larry West // Mar 17, 2010 at 5:56 pm
When I ran back in 1992, even though I had earned the endorsement of Kentucky Right-to-Live, only one union bothered to ask me to come in and answer questions. You might want to check if they are doing the same thing the CJ is doing. (By the way, the Courier did interview me, but still endorsed someone else – probably because KRTL endorsed me).
3 CT // Mar 17, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Many CJ Editorial decisions can be tied to River Fields. It is much deeper than the CJ Editorial Head Keith Runyon, being married to Mimi Runyon the driving force behind River Fields. Mrs.Bingham was a founding member of River Fields, and set the tone back in the 80′s.
How else can you explain the endorsement of Indiana Republican Governor Mitch Daniels who never met a toll road he did not like over Jill Long a Clean very progressive liberal Democrat.
Is River Fields switching from Fischer to Tandy?. I had heard Tandy was their #2.
4 eric schansberg // Mar 17, 2010 at 8:37 pm
Great point, but sadly, old news…
5 tiredofspam // Mar 18, 2010 at 1:51 am
No Doubt the entitled elite group of Riverfields has influence. Does anyone even read the C-J still? It’s so substandard now it’s pathetic…..It’s so obvious that the position of the reporting is so censored, I’m supprised any of the decent writers are still there. There is NO investigative reporting that has any merit, The Courier’s Mayoral endorsement might be the Kiss of Death, the way most people think about the C-J nowdays.
6 Steve Magruder (I, not D or R) // Mar 18, 2010 at 2:30 am
Well, when you have Southern Indiana papers providing more complete, less biased coverage of the Bridges Project, the C-J has a real problem on its hands.
7 Kentucky Red // Mar 18, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Good post Jake! The entitled elite will not dare to cross the cj. I will not vote for anyone who thinks they are entitled to a office or position.
Mongiardo is up by 18 and still voiced his opinion same with king.
Down with the elite mentality! Crit, Jerry and Ben should call on conway to say something. Oh that’s right they are the elite establishment
But on the other hand they don’t expect to get the cj’s endorsement.
8 Carter Burger // Mar 18, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Considering the number of people they have fired over on Broadway, this is just their “nice” way of saying they don’t have enough reporters to cover everyone.
9 jake // Mar 18, 2010 at 3:10 pm
Nothing to do with reporters.
Editorial board.
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