Crawford wants newspaper to eat its words

San Antonio Express-News ^ | 09/30/2004 | Rebeca Rodriguez

[kingattax]

CRAWFORD — Photos of President Bush hugging diners and mugging for the camera adorn the walls of the Crawford Coffee Station, a popular cafe in this small Central Texas town Bush calls home.

Just a few miles from the Bush ranch, the spot is a popular place for locals to gather in the morning for coffee, breakfast and a glance at the day's news. * (Jerry Lara / Express-News)

Pro-Bush signs hang at the Crawford Coffee Station, which is no longer carrying the Lone Star Iconoclast because of its criticism of the president. *

W. Leon Smith, publisher of the Lone Star Iconoclast, co-wrote the editorial that blasts George Bush's presidential record and urges voters to elect Democrat John Kerry. He stands by his decision.

But the rack that once held the Lone Star Iconoclast — Crawford's weekly newspaper — now is empty, thanks to a blistering indictment in Tuesday's paper of Bush's presidential record and a call to elect Democrat John Kerry in November.

For a town drenched in Bush, the editorial is practically political heresy.

"Not only is he the president of the United States, he's my neighbor, he's my customer," Coffee Station owner Nick Spanos said. "We're not carrying that paper after today."

The firestorm began Tuesday morning, when readers opened up the newspaper to Page 2 and found an entire half-page criticizing the president for a variety of failings, and calling for the election of Kerry.

By the afternoon, news of the editorial was burning up Internet blogs and e-mail boxes all over the country.

Iconoclast publisher W. Leon Smith, who co-wrote the editorial with two other writers, is unapologetic.

"We're just trying to point out the direction the country's going in, and it's not good," he said.

Smith is majority owner of the Iconoclast, the Record of nearby Clifton and the Bosque Globe. He's also the mayor of Clifton and a Democrat who was defeated twice in campaigns for the Texas House of Representatives.

Now, Smith has become an iconoclast in his own right, challenging the widely declared belief that Crawford and its environs are "Bush Country."

The Iconoclast was founded in 2000, after the November election, but before Bush was declared the winner in a highly controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision.

During that murky month, the newspaper endorsed Bush, Smith said.

The newspaper also backed Bush's call for normalcy after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and supported the resolution to go to war with Iraq — proof, he said, the paper is not out to get the president.

But this editorial has caused waves at the offices of the Clifton Record, where all three papers are produced.

Wednesday, staffers were busy putting together the Record, which hits stands today.

They also were busy fielding phone call after phone call from curious journalists, emotional readers, and angry advertisers.

"Some of them do use colorful language," marketing director Melanie Milbradt said with a grin.

As of Wednesday morning, more than a dozen readers had canceled their subscription and six advertisers had pulled their spots from the paper.

Smith expects there will be more, and he's preparing for the worst.

"It will probably put us under," he said.

Smith's desk at the Record offices is piled with paper, and his cubicle is filled with Mickey Mouse paraphernalia — two clocks, posters and even his computer screensaver.

He pulled up his computer e-mail inbox, filled with messages of varying intensity.

Smith said about 75 percent of them applaud the editorial, but the remaining fourth border on vitriol.

"It really appears to be me that we no longer live in an open society," he said. "When you get to the point where you can't express an opinion, then you're in trouble."

Smith said too many voters suffer from an emotional attachment to a person, particularly when that person happens to be president of the United States, and he lives a few miles down Prairie Chapel Road.

"We're not electing a king or an emperor, we're hiring somebody," he said, matter-of-factly. "Do they work every day like everyone else and get the job done or not?"

The Clifton Record has not yet endorsed a candidate, but Smith said the paper's editorial writers will get together soon. The choice likely will anger more readers.

In Crawford, where the Iconoclast doesn't even have an office, the slap at the town's most famous resident — and tourist attraction — is being taken personally.

"Good Lord, of all the places that George Bush could have chosen to live, he chose Crawford. This is kind of like a stab," said Larry Nelson, manager of Crawford Country Style, a store that sells "Western White House" souvenirs.

Wednesday, St. Louis residents Jerry and Barbara Tuma were passing through Crawford on a cross-country trip.

They said they also were upset by the editorial.

"If you don't have something nice to say about your neighbors, say nothing," Jerry Tuma said. "Let the big papers with 15 people analyzing this stuff write about it."

rrodriguez@express-news.net

[plushaye]

""It really appears to be me that we no longer live in an open society," he said. "When you get to the point where you can't express an opinion, then you're in trouble."

He can express his opinion, but his newspaper subscribers don't have to buy his opinion anymore.

Consumer activism does hurt, whether it is cancelling subscriptions to liberal newspapers, turning off CBS News, boycotting Proctor & Gamble etc. That's expressing OUR opinions.

[sneakers]

"Smith's desk at the Record offices is piled with paper, and his cubicle is filled with Mickey Mouse paraphernalia — two clocks, posters and even his computer screensaver."

Typical immature liberal.

[TomGuy]

W. Leon Smith, publisher of the Lone Star Iconoclast, didn't show allot of smarts in doing this.

Maybe he was just tired of being the publisher. Now he can use the cancellations and lack of sales as an excuse to retire.

[PajamaTruthMafia]

Right. He expressed his opinion and his readers are expressing their (which he does not like). It's ok for him but not OK for his readers and advertisers to vote with their feet! He is crying like a typical liberal baby!

"It will probably put us under," he said.
Good. That is called the free-market. It is how your customers express thier opinion. Get used to it!

[TexasBud]

Even though I disagree with his opinion, I think he was pretty gutsy in writing that editorial. Not many would have the nerve, even if they felt as strongly as he apparently did. But if the advertisers are pulling out, I'm sure that means the end of that paper. I hope he knew that before going in.

[marvlus]

When you get to the point where you can't express an opinion, then you're in trouble

no, you just need to know that people are going to have opinions about your opinion. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen!!

[OriginalChristian]

This was posted ~4 hours ago...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1231394/posts

[Ron in Acreage]

This should be a lesson to all. If your local paper supports Kerry, and you don't, cancel your subscription. Stop using their advertisers etc. Only when we hurt them in the wallet will they possibly put a sock in it. I canceled my Palm Beach Post rag about 5 years ago.

[gridlock]

The Iconoclast was founded in 2000, after the November election, but before Bush was declared the winner in a highly controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Sounds like The Iconoclast is kind of like Brill's Content. If I were a person who saw conspiracies in every shadow (cough, cough), I would say that the entire purpose of The Iconoclast was to publish this very criticism and to flame out in a blaze of glory just before the 2004 election.

After all, you can't buy publicity this good.... unless you buy publicity this good. It becomes a three-day story and it only cost as much as it costs to run a money-losing local paper for three years, maybe $200,000.

[Richard Kimball]

Forgive me for posting on this again, but I am the photographer for the Crawford newspaper for sports:

This article is correct. Bush is extremely popular in Crawford. Practically every business in town, except for the newspaper has a Bush/Cheney banner or yard sign. As the sports photographer, I try to stay out of the politics of the paper. I believe that small town football, especially in Texas, is one of the prime unifying factors that keep small towns together and give them their unique identities. While I am politically active, I specifically avoid this in my role as a sports photographer, as I believe people should have some refuge where they can go and not be battered by political electioneering. I also believe that sports is the appropriate place for this. I have cautioned some of my friends at the paper that the constant sniping at the President and the almost weekly columns about the "Crawford Peace House" are hurting our circulation and advertising revenue.

In case you're not aware, the "Crawford Peace House" is an old building purchased by Rat activists shortly after Bush was elected in 2000. It serves as a base for all the outside agitators that come into Crawford to run protests. Most of the local citizenry do not like the Peace House, and if they refer to it at all, they roll their eyes or shake their heads. As the name implies, it looks like a house that belongs to a 60's hippie.

I've worked on small newspapers off and on for over 15 years. During that time, I've come to believe that these newspapers should serve the local community and leave national politics alone. BTW, anyone who wants to follow the fortunes of President Bush's home town team, click here.

I guarantee you, you will NOT see any endorsements for John Kerry on my site.

[WoodstockCat]

"When you get to the point where you can't express an opinion, then you're in trouble."

You're free to offer your opinion.

We're free to tell you that your dribble is best left for lining bird cages.

Welcome to America!

[Txslady]

ping!

[Freakazoid]

"It will probably put us under," he said.

So, he's a martyr for the cause.

Enjoy it!

[schaketo]

Just tried to use the link “Crawford” on the lower left of the page. It’s dead. Wonder if they’ve already folded?

The requested URL was not found on this server.

[NYCVirago]

Smith is majority owner of the Iconoclast, the Record of nearby Clifton and the Bosque Globe. He's also the mayor of Clifton and a Democrat who was defeated twice in campaigns for the Texas House of Representatives.

Funny how almost all of the stories mentioning this editorial conveniently left out the fact that this guy is a Democrat mayor, and doesn't even live in Crawford.

[Veto!]

and his cubicle is filled with Mickey Mouse paraphernalia

He leaves his Mickey Mouse bong in plain sight?

[Brilliant]

Any truth to the rumor that this guy's related to Michael Moore?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the info!

[sr4402]

The Lone Star Iconoclast was only doing a job for me, what's wrong with that?

/sarcasm off

[GOP_Raider]

It is how your customers express thier opinion. Get used to it!

Both of them were understandably pissed.