Town takes revenge on paper that backed Kerry

The Age ^ | November 8, 2004 | By Julian Coman

[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.

[AmericanMade1776]

As Uncle Hugh used to say, “Most people would rather bushwhack than gunfight.” At the time of this writing, I still don’t know who will be the next president. At the time of this reading, you probably do. But then that really doesn’t make that much difference. We survived Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding and Ronald Reagan, so the country will probably get along just fine. by Don Fischer

[NittanyLion]

football coaches are refusing to allow reporters to cover their matches

Just wait another month, when coaches will refuse to allow reporters to cover their wrestling games...

[Fiddlstix]

BTTT

[Stringfellow Hawke]

"The Kerry endorsement was a bold move for a paper dependent on local advertising income."

I had another word other then "bold" that I was thinking about, more like STUPID move. Another one of those people complaining about consequences to their actions like the Ditzy Twits.

Since this newspaper covers 'local' news, what in the heck do foreigners from Canada, Spain and Ireland care about local sports from Texas? I seriously doubt a 'local' newspaper can survive when its local population no longer supports it and has to depend on foreigners to prop it up and keep it alive.

[Stringfellow Hawke]

hehe, beat me to the punch, Bob Mc, we both had the same word pop into our heads when we read that article.

[ErnBatavia]

But while local readership of the Iconoclast has halved, its now-famous editorial has attracted new subscribers from Barcelona, Toronto and Dublin.

...and I'd say it's a pretty safe bet that there will be 'zero' in the way of renewals, come the time.

[MayflowerMadam]

"...Iconoclast is working on an election conspiracy theory, involving possible tampering with electronic voting machines in Florida and Ohio."

How stupid are they -- really? Any investigations in this vein will uncover overwhelming Democrat improprieties. I don't think they want to touch this subject; it's just a lot of blustering.

[starfish923]

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.
Bold" move?
I would call it "arrogant" or "stupid." Probably both.
What makes me chuckle is his inability to predict the outcome. But, that's where the arrogance comes in. He probably thinks that the folks in Crawford are just so stupid or ignorant that he could get away with WHATEVER he wanted -- with no fall out.
Arrogance.

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.
1. If Mr. Smith has no regrets, then it shows what little regard he has for his readership.
It also shows what little regard he has for his reporters. He KNEW the "crap" his reporters would have to take and he let it happen.
2. Principle? Baloney. Mr. Smith CHOSE to be the editor in this little town and KNEW what his readership was. He was simply being an arrogant S.O.B. and rubbing the noses of his readship in some liberal ka-ka.

This week, the Iconoclast is working on an election conspiracy theory, involving possible tampering with electronic voting machines in Florida and Ohio.
More arrogance.
He won't last long there.
No doubt he will show up as a columnist somewhere in the near future, at some liberal rag in a blue state.

[fish hawk]

No problem, one call to Soros and all is fine.

[leprechaun9]

"Press is supposed to have equal access ..."

There is nothing about access in the First Amendment - only the SPEECH is free!

This is a very big problem in our country. The entertainment industry, including the media, believe that the government's primary function is to be a prop for their industry. WRONG!!!!!

[dansangel]

[fhillary2]

A buddy of mine has a great bumpersticker that is appropriate for this paper: STUPIDITY SHOULD BE PAINFUL. To the left of this phrase on the bumpersticker is a medieval mace.

[international american]

"Mr Smith has no regrets. "We did that editorial based on principle," he said."

Yeah boy....."principal+ interest = Chapter 7 bankrupcy!!

ROTFLMAO!!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The Kerry endorsement was a bold move for a paper dependent on local advertising income.

"Bold," no.

"Arrogant," yes.

[BunnySlippers]

Well, he ought to just start pugtting out a French language edition.

[KwasiOwusu]

"Mr Smith has no regrets. "We did that editorial based on principle," he said."

Principle?
He wouldn't know principle if it hit him right in the face.
How can a Democrat be principled? Its an oxymoron.
Real question: How much did Soros pay him to do this obvious grandstanding?

[conservativeharleyguy]

Yet another example of the fact that every time you give a liberal any kind of weapon, he's more likely to shoot himself in the foot with it, that he is to hit the target.

Then he'll scream that it's all your fault.

He's lucky. In the frontier days, there were many "newsmen" ridden out of town "on a rail" or worse. My grandfather (truly "one of the last hard men") intervened in the summary execution of one in Mexico during the revolution, and saved his life on the condition that he leave Mexico and never return. The last thing they saw of him, his train was slowly pulling away.

In those days, there were actual consequences to libel and slander.

[dfwgator]

"Somebody git a rope!!"

[Melas]

I think I'd need more information as to how these coaches are barring the press from reporting on their games. I have some small experience in these matters. I was a journalist in a previous life.

[DUMBGRUNT]

I did not see the word PAID subscription anywhere.
More like a free Internet subscription?