Tom Roeser at war with the Illinois Leader

KMC BLOG ^ | 11/4/2003

[KMC1]

This story is especially for those in the political circles in Illinois that have followed my involvement in issues and politics. A crusty lovable guy by the name of Tom Roeser (who also writes for the Chicago Sun Times - and - has a Sunday night talk show on WLS in Chicago), stepped in it a bit on this past Sunday evening because of some statements he made about the exclusive news newcomer The Illinois Leader - one of the prime outlets that carries the Kevin McCullough Column each week. ERIC ZORN, Chicago Tribune Columnist outed the story. The ILLINOIS LEADER printed my response to it...

There are times when people must begin to accept difficult realities. There are times when it becomes necessary to do difficult things. Now may be that moment for me amongst my many friends in Illinois conservative circles.

Yesterday on Eric Zorn's Chicago Tribune blog, a most controversial story played out in print.

First, let me say congratulations to both Eric and the Chicago Tribune for finally recognizing that technology is changing the way we communication and for recognizing that web-logs are part of the way of the future when it comes to effective communication tools.

The story of controversy dealt with the partial transcript of the Tom Roeser "Political Shootout" show from this past Sunday evening. The details as reported were these:

"Let me tell you about the Leader," Roeser said. "My experience with the Leader is that you've really got to take it with a giant grain of salt.

"I don't think anybody's infiltrated the Leader. Certainly not common sense....I don't know who they are, the Leader."

When a caller later challenged him on this assessment, Roeser launched in again: "I think what you're doing is reading the Leader, and that's a big mistake," he said. "If you want to hear what's wrong with it, you can call up sometime when I have a full hour.

"It comes free and it's worth every penny you pay for it. It spews out a lot of rumors that are not verifiable and in fact it spewed out rumors about people that, um, they really, some of them, ought to be sued as a result.

"It carries a scurrilous type of news....I don't read it anymore because it doesn't matter. I don't think anybody cares about the Illinois Leader."

Whatever Tom's quibble with the Illinois Leader may be, I believe it is necessary and important to set the details straight as to the matters he asserted.

In my days in talk radio in Chicago, I had the unique opportunity to run in many of the same circles that Tom did. I have always had the utmost respect for Tom Roeser and the impact he has made on the debate of genuine conservative ideas and how they can and must impact society for real change to come about.

I have served as a guest on multiple occasions on his 'Political Shootout' show, and more to the point I served as his principal fill in host on his Saturday morning broadcast for a period of months.

As the Illinois Leader was getting formed and launched I was deeply familiar with the players involved there as well. And similar to my respect for Tom Roeser I held these individuals -- Dan Proft, Brian Timpone, and Fran Eaton in the highest regards.

Tom Roeser and others who have been critical of the Illinois Leader were invited to be a part of the success of the new internet property from its inception. The managing editor reached out to Roeser to invite him to submit material.

I was asked personally to reach out to Family PAC Executive Director Paul Caprio, another Leader critic, to submit material. Paul in return petitioned me on more than one occasion to request specific coverage of certain races or issues. (This, of course, occurred prior to a scathing letter sent out far and wide by Caprio attacking the Leader) and Proft.

Proft, president of Leader Media, was also invited to be a guest on Tom Roeser's "Political Shootout." (This was in addition to Dan's many appearances on Bruce DuMont's 'Beyond The Beltway', The Kevin McCullough Show, and The Deborah Rowe Show.)

But back to the exact quotes on the record from Sunday night.

If Tom Roeser doesn't wish to read the Illinois Leader, that is certainly his right. If he wishes to criticize the Illinois Leader, that is his right as well. But it is a reckless thing to assert - with no evidence - that the Illinois Leader purposefully publishes things it knows to be rumor or untrue.

As a responsible journalist himself, Tom should go back to his other employer - the Chicago Sun Times - and check for himself to see how many retractions or admissions of getting it wrong they have to print in a year.

The point of journalism is to tell the truth about what is happening. Sometimes sources are bad. Sometimes quotes get turned around. Sometimes mistakes are made. But to say that any news print is free from such mistakes is unrealistic.

If Tom Roeser has proof that the Illinois Leader has purposefully and willfully printed material known to be false, then he should state it plainly.

The way he makes the vague suggestion that "someone" out there "somwhere" should sue the Illinois Leader for "something" is a weak method of communicating a point - unless it is intended to poison.

Tom also asserted that the Illinois Leader "doesn't matter" and that he doesn't think that "anybody cares about the Illinois Leader". Again his opinion is his own but the facts of the matter are these:

When the Illinois Leader first launched its operations the web-site started with about 3000 hits or page views per week. As of this week management of the Illinois Leader informed me that the page views is closing in on upsurge of almost 2000% and growing per week. In addition to this, other news outlets monitor the Illinois Leader constantly. I have held literally dozens of conversations with news and media folks in print, TV, and even talk radio (and, yes, even many of Tom's colleagues at WLS) who make the Illinois Leader a "must read" every day. If it were truly irrelevant - no one in the news biz would even give it a second thought.

It may not be comfortable for Tom Roeser to admit it but the facts certainly contradict the opinion he offered Sunday night.

I am saddened at the fighting taking place amongst conservative icons in Illinois. I truly believed that the state could accomplish great things if those who had championed the core values of conservatism in the past were gracious in welcoming others to the fight who wish to see victory accomplished.

But accepting this fact or not changes nothing: the Illinois Leader is having an impact on the political shape of Illinois.

And there is no "mystery" as to who the Leader is -- Dan Proft, Brian Timpone, and Fran Eaton, with part time help from Jill Stanek. They are the same management team that's been working together since its inception.

And at two million page views per month, I'd say the Illinois Leader is here to stay!

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