“We did not commission that poll. Our intention is to keep up the positive campaign that we have had up until now and talk about the issues that are important to this city.”
– Laura Carno, chief of staff for mayoral candidate Steve Bach, referring to a push poll that paints opponent Richard Skorman as — as Indy columnist John Hazlehurst put it — a “gay-loving, gun-hating, big-government-supporting crazed liberal.”
The Indy’s Kirsten Akens received the push poll. Click here to read what she wrote.
It seems it’s the media who is anxious for the mayor’s election to ‘go negative’, as it is they who are now looking for stories that do not relate to the election and honestly don’t even make sense. The Indy has already begun focusing on non-campaign issues, and it seems the Gazette is now following suit. Can we please just focus on the issues? That is really ALL the voters care about.
It seems to me that the Gazette is actually doing a wonderful job of mud slinging in this election. Agree with Leo – stop with the soap opera and start reporting on the issues.
The fact that 527s are doing push polls before the runoff election isn’t an issue that should be reported? I respectfully disagree.
While I don’t think that these types of tactics should be our sole focus — and they haven’t been — I do believe they need to be reported.
This kind of campaigning by Republicans is disgusting. How about if they focus on what are their plans to revitalize our city?
Daniel, with all due respect, I have to laugh when I see you talk like this. While you may claim some sense of “journalistic duty” to report these kinds of issues, logical people will see right through it.
The Gazette and The Independent both have the same goal: to sell newspapers. That’s it. You can deny it all you want, but every single person in this city knows it: your stories are designed to get papers in peoples’ hands.
What’s the best way to accomplish this goal? By stirring up controversy and attempting to influence voter viewpoint. Sensationalism and group-think are the tools of your trade – after all, why report the good (or, in your language, “mundane”) when the bad will sell more papers? Do you expect us to believe that you are merely reporting on stories that “need to be reported?” Please.
These are two well-respected, honorable men who are vying to lead this city. Let’s focus on issues, and not how to get more people hooked into your paper.
Reporters can focus on the issues when campaigners can. Otherwise, keeping an eye on “rogue” 527s is just due diligence, whether anybody likes it or not.
Saul,
Thanks for your comment. I respect your opinion, but as I told the previous commenter, I have to disagree.
If a 527 political group gets involved in an election, I think it’s our responsibility to report on it and try to figure out who’s behind the money. As you stated, there are two well-respected and honorable men running for mayor, so don’t you think that it’s our job to inform voters that neither one is behind a push poll that makes one look bad?
If you look at the Gazette’s past coverage, we have definitely focused on the issues. I hope you had a chance to read our voter guide, which was all issue-driven.
By the way, the Quote of the Day doesn’t appear in print, only on my blog. Also, it’s not my job to sell newspapers, but I do believe that the community benefits from reading the Gazette.
Again, thanks for taking the time to comment.
Daniel