Gallatin Democrats: Media Bias Archives

Gallatin County Democrats - Bozeman, Montana - Government by the people  <meta name="description" content="Gallatin County Democrats | The Bozeman, Montana Democratic Party - Dedicated to Government by the People" > <meta name="keywords" content="Gallatin County Democrats, Bozeman, Montana, politics, political, MSU, news, central committee"> <meta name="GOOGLEBOT" content="index, follow"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <link rel="icon" href="/img/favkickingdonkey.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <style type="text/css"> @import url(/nav.css); </style> <script type="text/javascript" src="/navbar.js"></script>   </head> <body onLoad="if(self.onLoadHandler) onLoadHandler() ;"> <div id="header"> <a href="http://www.gallatindemocrats.com"><img src="/img/bridgers.south.jpg" alt="Gallatin Democrats" width="850" height="175" border="0"></a> </div> <div id="container"> <ul id="nav"> <li><a href="candidates/Candidate%20contact.html">Candidates</a> <ul> <li><a href="Templates/senate.html">Senate</a> <ul> <li><a href="candidates/LarryJent.html">Larry Jent</a></li> <li><a href="candidates/alexrussell.html">Alex Russell</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="candidates/house.html" class="daddy">House</a> <ul> <li><a href="candidates/Jennifer%20%20JP%20Pomnichowski.html">Jennifer Pomnichowski</a></li> <li><a href="/candidates/FrankeWilmer.html">Franke Wilmer</a></li> <li><a href="/candidates/bradywiseman.html">Brady Wiseman</a></li> <li><a href="/candidates/mikephillips.html">Mike Phillips</a></li> <li><a href="/candidates/lauraobert.html">Laura Obert</a></li> <li><a href="/candidates/johnvincent.html">John Vincent</a></li> <li><a href="/candidates/lorenacton.html">Loren Acton</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="candidates/county.html" class="daddy">County</a> <ul> <li><a href="/candidates/LyneaSeher.html">Lynea Seher</a></li> <li><a href="/candidates/ericsemerad.html">Eric Semarad</a></li> <li><a href="/candidates/derikpomeroy.html">Derik Pomeroy</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="candidates/officeholders.html">Officeholders</a> <ul> <li><a href="candidates/officeholders.html" class="daddy">House</a></li> <li><a href="candidates/officeholders.html" class="daddy">Senate</a></li> <li><a href="candidates/officeholders.html" class="daddy">County</a> <ul> <li><a href="Templates/county.html">County Commissioner</a></li> <li><a href="Templates/county.html">Sheriff</a></li> <li><a href="Templates/county.html">Clerk & Recorder/Surveyor</a></li> <li><a href="Templates/county.html">County Attorney </a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="Templates/statedemocraticofficeholders.html" class="daddy">Statewide</a> <ul> <li><a href="Templates/statedemocraticofficeholders.html">Governor</a></li> <li><a href="Templates/statedemocraticofficeholders.html">Lt. 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Competition, in journalism as in most enterprises, is a healthy thing; it's no coincidence that just about the only big papers in the country showing decent circulation numbers are the New York tabloids that are locked in a brutal competitive battle. If competition tends to drive out the lengthy, thoughtful and obscure in favor of the immediate and salacious, well, that's a problem we'll just have to wrestle with.</em></p> <p class="posted"> Posted by admin at <a href="http://www.gallatindemocrats.com/archives/weblog/2006/11/newspapers_and.php">10:43 AM</a> | <a href="http://www.gallatindemocrats.com/archives/weblog/2006/11/newspapers_and.php#comments">Comments (0)</a> </p> <h2>November 18, 2006</h2> <h3 id="a000336">A tale of two stories from the Bozeman Chronicle and Billings Gazette</h3> <p><strong>Here's The entire story in Saturday's Bozeman Chronicle</strong><br /> Kitzenberg changes parties; Senate power shifts (can't link)<br /> HELENA (AP)- State Sen. Sam Kitzenberg of Glasgow has officially changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat, giving Democrats a 26-24 advantage in the Montana Senate.<br /> Kitzenberg filed the paperwork at the secretary of state's office on Friday. Republican Secretary of State Brad Johnson released a statement criticizing Kitzenberg's decision.<br /> "To go before the voters in one team's colors only to change uniforms at halftime is not the way I would choose," Johnson said in the statement. "I believe very strongly in informed voting; mid-cycle party switches work directly against that."<br /> Kitzenberg dismissed Johnson's statement as political and said he was at peace with his decision.<br /> "You can call me Sam, Sam, the Democrat man," Kitzenberg said Friday.<br /> He said he had been thinking about switching parties for about 12 years and made the decision after Sen. Mike Cooney, D-Helena, called him after the Nov. 7 elections.<br /> "He called and said, 'Guess what? It's tied. I know you've mentioned changing parties in the past, and now is the time,'" Kitzenberg said.<br /> He dismissed criticism from Republican colleagues who say the party switch occurred because the Democratic administration of Gov. Brian Schweitzer gave Kitzenberg a job as a Revenue Department analyst just months ago.<br /> Peter Hellend, GOP chairman for Valley County, which includes Glasgow, said earlier this week that Kitzenberg’s job and change in party affiliation 'smelled of political payoff."<br /> "The job I have now had nothing to do with this decision," Kitzenberg said. "I sat down and tried to figure out what was really important to me. It just came down to me realizing who my real friends were and where my heart was."<br /> Kitzenberg said he looks forward to supporting several of Schweitzer's legislative proposals, such as funding for full-day kindergarten and for the university system.</p> <p><strong>Here's What the Billings Gazette had to say:</strong><br /> <a href="http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2006/11/17/news/state/20-kitzenberg.txt"><strong>Kitzenberg switch to Dem not new idea</strong></a> "Warning John Sinrud picture"<br /> Click over to read the entire story. Here's a few clips from the story:<br /> <em>Kitzenberg, a Republican lawmaker since 1995, said fellow Republicans have repeatedly chastised him for his votes, opposed bills and projects that benefited his district and even campaigned against him.<br /> </em></p> <p><em>"At least I'm not going to be harassed there (in the Democratic Party)," he said. "I don't mind (Republicans') beliefs. But what I do mind is they won't let me have mine."</em></p> <p>Reading both stories you get two distinct impressions. In the first story, an AP story ran by the BDC you come away with the thought that Kitzenberg got a political payoff. Job=Switch. <br /> The second was more balanced. It mentioned the same criticism in the earlier piece, then it gets to the real reasons Kitzenberg came over to Democrats side. The Republicans attacked Kitzenberg, ran against him, killed his projects, and bad mouthed him. The chickens coming home to roost, except in the Chronicle. No wonder the political divide in the Gallatin Valley is so pronounced. <br /> <strong>Update:</strong><br /> <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/18/us/18montana.html?_r=1&ref=us&oref=slogin">Here's a New York Times article about it</a><br /> It's got a great Schweitzer quote:<br /> "To have these Republicans gnashing their teeth reminds me of a guy who’s been kicking his dog and is then surprised that the dog moves in with the neighbors," Mr. Schweitzer said.<br /> <strong>Update 2</strong><br /> Adding to the lack of perspective the Bozeman Chronicle poured oil to the fire by making an Sunday op-ed about Kitzenberg.<br /> Here's the headline and a few choice quotes: Kitzenberg defection looks mighty suspicious (No link)<br /> <em> ...One would like to think that things haven't gotten that openly hostile here in Montana. But Kitzenberg's defection to the Democrats after he was given a cushy job by an administration of that party looks mighty suspicious. <br /> </em><br /> <em> If a politician wins a seat as a member of one political party, it would seem that he has an ethical - if not legal - obligation to the voters who elected him to serve in that party until his term in office is expired. But then politicians are not famous for ethical behavior. </em><br /> <em> The ill-timed party switch is just one reason for cynicism in an already jaded electorate. </em></p> <p>Again, nary a mention of bad behavior by the Republicans. The Bozeman Chronicle deplores the very cynicism that they cause. </p> <p>All the BDC editorial in the extended entry.</p> <p>Here's all the BDC Editorial.</p> <p>Kitzenberg defection looks mighty suspicious<br /> His constituents voted him into office as a Republican; failing to complete his term in that party is deceitful and a breach of trust with a majority of his constituents.</p> <p><br /> Less than a week after an election that evenly split the state Senate 25-25, Glasgow's Sam Kitzenberg switches parties, giving Democrats control of the Senate.<br /> What’s wrong with this picture? Plenty.<br /> If a politician wins a seat as a member of one political party, it would seem that he has an ethical - if not legal - obligation to the voters who elected him to serve in that party until his term in office is expired. But then politicians are not famous for ethical behavior.<br /> Complicating perceptions of Kitzenberg's defection is the fact that he was given a Department of Revenue job by Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer's administration just a few months earlier. Both Kitzenberg and Schweitzer deny any quid pro quo, but it certainly invites that perception. And as we all know, perceptions might as well be reality in the political arena.<br /> Kitzenberg is a moderate Republican who has sided with Democrats on some issues in the past. But that doesn't alter the fact that his constituents voted him into office as a Republican; failing to complete his term in that party is deceitful and a breach of trust with a majority of his constituents.<br /> The ill-timed party switch is just one reason for cynicism in an already jaded electorate.<br /> Elections nationwide have clearly indicated that the entire U.S. is nearly equally divided and deeply polarized on many issues. This razor-thin split was apparent in political campaigns that were hugely expensive and acrimonious in the extreme. Candidates for both parties were nearly hyperventilating in their efforts to defame their opponents’ character. Robo-phones were nauseatingly relentless, dialing voters with recorded messages urging support for candidates and threatening terrorism or economic demise for failing to do so.<br /> One would like to think that things haven't gotten that openly hostile here in Montana. But Kitzenberg's defection to the Democrats after he was given a cushy job by an administration of that party looks mighty suspicious.<br /> If Kitzenberg wants to keep his Department of Revenue job and become a Democrat, he should resign his Senate seat and let the political process choose a suitable replacement.</p> <p class="posted"> Posted by admin at <a href="http://www.gallatindemocrats.com/archives/weblog/2006/11/a_tale_of_two_s.php">07:40 PM</a> | <a href="http://www.gallatindemocrats.com/archives/weblog/2006/11/a_tale_of_two_s.php#comments">Comments (0)</a> </p> </div> </div> </body> </html>