Media Monday – 20100104

January 4, 2010 by Cato  
Filed under Maryland, Maryland Politics, Media

While Maryland Sen. Andy Harris prepares to formally announce his candidacy to unseat freshman Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD), the Daily Times has decided to get an early start in promoting Kratovil’s re-election.

Starting off with a front page puff piece by Greg Latshaw in Sunday’s edition, the Daily Times makes their strategy for 2010 clear.  Kratovil and his Gannett allies are having a tough time defending his voting record, so the decision has been made to promote Kratovil as “independent” and lowering expectations for Kratovil.  This was a dominant theme of his 2008 campaign and Kratovil and the media are hoping that it might work again.

At least Latshaw’s piece was factual, if a tad fawning.  Sunday’s inside piece by Nicole Guadiano simply re-wrote Kratovil’s voting record.  The three biggest votes that Kratovil has cast to date are on the Obama PORKULUS bill, Cap & Tax, and ObamaCare.  Guadiano claims that Kratovil voted against PORUKLUS.  This simply isn’t true.  Kratovil did vote against the original House version but VOTED FOR the bill that was actually adopted.  (I wonder if DT Managing Editor Erick Sahler will print a correction on that one?)  Kratovil’s vote on Cap & Tax was neatly buried in the middle of the article.  As for voting against ObamaCare, we’ll give Kratovil SOME credit for that vote.  However, voters know that it was their dedication (exhibited by attending town hall meetings and calling Kratovil’s office) which yielded that vote.  Besides, Kratovil still has an opportunity to redeem himself in the eyes of Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama when the reconciliation bill is voted on.

To preface Harris’ announcement with a trifecta of pro-Kratovil propaganda we were treated to this morning’s lead editorial.  I’m all in favor of a vigorous op-ed page.  I just wish that the Daily Times wasn’t being so transparent.  Let’s face it, this morning’s piece read more like a sex act than a mere endorsement.

We know these folks loved Wayne Gilchrest.  Since Harris knocked Gilchrest out, they’ve decided that Kratovil is the second coming of Gilchrest – just cuter and more cuddly.  I don’t even have a problem with that; that’s what editorial pages are for.  I just expected them to not twist the truth so severely when discussing Kratovil’s record:

Kratovil was frequently among a minority of Democrats who voted with Republicans for or against various bills, including health care reform, the stimulus bill and more recently, a jobs package. He voted with Democrats on climate change and abortion issues.

As noted above, KRATOVIL VOTED FOR PORKULUS.  The ObamaCare bill that he voted against was quite similar to proposals he was hawking to various lefty groups in his 2008 campaign.  Let’s face it.  The only reason Frank Kratovil voted against ObamaCare was because voting for it would have been equivalent to standing on US 50 and cutting his own throat.  Kratovil’s fiscal recklessness to date made it politically impossible to vote for the jobs bill. (Plus, Little Tommy Pelosi didn’t HAVE to get his vote on that one)

Happy New Year.  Expect plenty more of the same from the Daily Times.  We can also expect justification for O’Malley’s record and plenty of defense for the profligacy of Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt and the Wicomico County Board of Education.

NOTE:  Before anyone gets their knickers in a twist and accuses me of calling the kettle black, remember that Delmarva Dealings is primarily a journal of opinion.  We have NEVER claimed to be an unbiased reporter of news.  While we pride ourselves on being able to back up statements reported as fact, we always have (and will) be a publisher of conservative opinion.