Posted on 11/07/2004 7:07:48 AM PST by johnny7
As Democrats resign themselves to four more years with George Bush in the White House, one beleaguered newspaper is discovering the consequences of taking on the President in his own backyard.
The Lone Star Iconoclast, in Crawford, Texas, where Mr Bush has a ranch, usually covers high school football games and local court cases. But a week ago, in an editorial misjudgment of staggering proportions, the newspaper - circulation 920 - decided to endorse John Kerry in the race for the White House. Readers, wrote the paper's editor, Leon Smith, "should not rate the candidate by his home town or even his political party, but instead by where he intends to take the country". President Bush, he continued, "has let us down" on Iraq and the economy. His words did little to sway the electorate, and the President held Texas with ease. But the Iconoclast's readers, many of whom profit from the regular visits of tourists, journalists and the occasional world leader to Crawford, are furious.
The newspaper has been flooded with angry letters, readers are boycotting it and shops refusing to stock it. Mr Smith is considering pulling out of town. "The hate mail hasn't stopped," he said. "There have been about 2000 letters in all, from Crawford and the rest of our circulation area. We knew some people wouldn't like it, but the vehemence of the reaction has been extraordinary. People just glare at me in the street." The Kerry endorsement was a bold move for a paper dependent on local advertising income. Road signs around Crawford proclaim the area to be "Bush Country". Shops sell Bush badges, Bush mugs and Bush T-shirts. About 80 per cent of Crawford's 700 residents are declared Bush supporters. Almost all, it seems, have penned an angry letter to The Lone Star Iconoclast. Advertising revenue has collapsed and football coaches are refusing to allow reporters to cover their matches.
But while local readership of the Iconoclast has halved, its now-famous editorial has attracted new subscribers from Barcelona, Toronto and Dublin. Despite his plummeting circulation and the ostracism of his reporters, Mr Smith has no regrets. "We did that editorial based on principle," he said.
This week, the Iconoclast is working on an election conspiracy theory, involving possible tampering with electronic voting machines in Florida and Ohio.
Great marketing plan... now all they gotta do is get some Spanish, Canadian and Irish businesses to advertise so they can stay in operation.
All together now: AWWWWWWWW
;-)
The only thing that bothered me was, "Football coaches are refusing to allow reporters to cover their matches." That sounds like genuine interference with the press. Press is supposed to have equal access, and this is obviously in violation of that.
I wonder if anyone has an idea to start a competing paper.. that would really do it
What to give THE LONELY STAR ICONOCLAST ...Your thoughts?
http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/
Letters to the Editor, if you want.
You are entitled to say whatever you want, that is called FREE-SPEECH! The impending consequences are left solely to those who agree or disagree with you. I love the USA!
The Kerry endorsement was a stupid move for a paper dependent on local advertising.
How stupid can these liberals get? In Crawford Texas, home of beloved George Bush, of all places?
Seems like his principles should have him in another market, like San Francisco.
Nothing like a free market to determine who lives and who dies.
It is the free market speaking. This is what is happening to liberal rags all over the country. Circulation is going down and if they don't change their ways they will be out of business.
Football matches?? I guess I must be one of those red-state backward rubes -- I've always called them "football games".
Ooops. My mistake. The Aussies do call them "matches". I should have checked the source of the article.
Great Idea, I hope someone does that!
NEXT: NY Times, Washington Post, LA Times, Newsweek!!!!
If it looks like a Democrat, talks like a Democrat, then it probably is a Democrat...Don M. Fisher you are a Democrat who gambled and lost, Just like Dan Rather, Just like Michael Moore, just like George Soros. We Won, America Won, and none of your biased political BS is going to be bought.
LOLOL!! He'd better not go checking into THAT, or he's liable to get one heck of a surprise!
Keep your arms up over your head. It makes it harder for them to throw the net over you.
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