Team 4: 'All-Out Assault' Planned On Media, Lawmaker Says (Payraise payback)

Channel 4 Action News ^ | Jan. 13, 2006. | Jim Parsons

[JTN]

Team 4 has a voicemail recording of Democratic State Rep. Tim Solobay, of Canonsburg, saying that state lawmakers are preparing an all-out assault on the media. Solobay hints that the first volley is a bill that would start charging sales tax on all advertising in Pennsylvania.

Solobay left the voicemail message for editor Cody Knotts, who works at The Weekly Recorder, in Claysville, Washington County.

In the message, Solobay says, "But you know, for the most part, the majority of the legislative feeling about the media right now is if there's something they can do to screw them, you can imagine it may occur."

"That got my blood boiling because the Legislature thinks they're invulnerable," said Knotts.

Like many newspaper editors in Pennsylvania, Knotts wrote prolifically last year about the 16 percent pay raise that lawmakers took, and then gave back under heavy media pressure.

[JTN]

Does PA have term limits? If not it sounds like it needs them.

Video at the link.

[JTN]

Free speech ping.

[Gordongekko909]

Hooooo boy. Punitive action against the media? As much as we dislike the MSM, even we wouldn't go that far.

Will the MSM stand up for free speech, or will they bend over and take it from this Dem? Decisions, decisions...

[Mike Darancette]

Solobay hints that the first volley is a bill that would start charging sales tax on all advertising in Pennsylvania.

Does that include PSAs and political ads?

[Belasarius]

This is great. We just need a steady stream of stuff like this to carry us over to November and there should be a bloodbath. Just keep talkin' there Foghorn.

[centurion316]

One more indicator that these guys are an organized criminal enterprise. I won't weep for the media, but once they get through with them, they'll go after someone else who has pissed off the ruling class (see Wal-Mart and the Maryland Legislature).

[ellery]

bttttt

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Doesn't this fall into the "Abuse of Power" category????

[zeugma]

My question would be: Have these people screaming about a sales tax on advertizing come out in opposition against any other taxes? Or are they only concerned about when the legislooters decide to tax them

[Sisku Hanne]

Well, if it isn't Hall of SHAMEr , Rep. Solobay. Still haven't returned that illegal pay grab money, I see. No wonder you wish to muzzle the media.

[Sisku Hanne]

On a funny note...where else but PA could you find a political poster written in "Amish" (aka PA Dutch or Low German)

[Galveston Grl]

This is what the Democrats always do to business that does not support them. They target them with taxes or charges of crimes. "Big" tobacco and Microsoft are two.

[Gordongekko909]

That's true, but the Fourth Branch usually does support them. And the big danger in attacking the media is that the media, by definition, controls information flow. And as far as politicians are concerned, information flow to the public is just as vital as blood flow to their hearts.

This is why you see politicians kiss up to the media constantly (think John McCain). If someone is already in the crosshairs and knows it, then they can take an ideological potshot (think President Bush being photographed with a copy of Bernie Goldberg's Bias). But an outright attack on the media? That's just asking for trouble.

Therein lies the rub: the MSM will prop up the dumbest leftie (think Cindy Sheehan) because their goals usually intersect. They can also dump those lefties if they become ungrateful slaves (think Cindy Sheehan post-Katrina). But what about a leftie who's actually getting something done, as opposed to some activist who is having no appreciable effect on opinion polls? Will the MSM turn the other cheek for them? They did with Clinton when he repeatedly hoodwinked them. Hell, they even marvelled at how good he was at lying to them.

So what's it going to be then, eh? Another Sheehan or another Clinton?

[Lurker]

Scratch a liberal, find a fascist.

L

[Gondring]

On a funny note...where else but PA could you find a political poster written in "Amish" (aka PA Dutch or Low German)

Funnier note...the contact information given on the poster is a website. Going for a pretty small demographic with that poster!