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.

[El Gran Salseron]

"You are entitled to say whatever you want, that is called FREE-SPEECH!"

You have been brainwashed by the MSM and dims. That is NOT what the First Amendment says. I think you had better read the Bill of Rights again and pay particular attention to # 1.

[asgardshill]

(T)he 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.

A golden exemplar of the concept of why pooping in one's own nest is a supremely bad idea.

Here's hoping for Mr. Smith's sake that his personal savings are in good shape, for he probably won't be in the newspaper business much longer. That is, unless he can find backers in France and Germany to help him make his daily bread.

[starfish923]

Thanks for the link.
I sent him a goodie.

In a postscript I suggested that he go on the O'Reilly Factor.

Heehee. That was fun.

[Semi Civil Servant]

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

I wonder how long reports of the Crawford football team, the yearly festivals, the church news, the tiny annual parade, and the general local news typical of any small town newspaper will hold the interest of its new international urbane readers?

[searchandrecovery]

This is the first time I've seen a post of this type here (with a title, name, picture). I gotta say - cool! I don't think it would work for someone doing tons of posts to use it all the time, but to highlight the important ones I think it's good. Nice graphics. And what you said - they gambled and lost, deal with it.

[Nightshift]

pinged again

[Brilliant]

I'm in Florida. It was a landslide in Florida, despite manipulation by the Dems.

[Baytovin]

"The Kerry endorsement was a bold move for a paper dependent on local advertising income." Yeah, no matter which way they cut it, the Liberals STILL need Capitalism to survive. And THIS fact is waht probably rankles them more than anything...oh for the good old days, when newspapers like 'Tass' and 'Pravda' could print what they wanted without having to concern themselves with distractions like advertising dollars....

[Malleus Dei]

Actions have consequences.

Welcome to adulthood, newspaperman.

[johnny7]

Yeah... Tas and Pravda. Kind'a like NPR.

[Cultural Jihad]

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.

Baloney. Helen Thomas is trying out that shtick, too.

[Chode]

i think it's called Corporate Suicide...

[sausageseller]

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

SS. The President has been good for the towns' businesses. Were are Mr. Smith's principles to help and support his fellow townspeople?

The truth is Mr. Smith you have put yourself before them! BTW. John Kerry has no principles on any issue, unless you consider to be on every side a principle.

[expat_panama]

Julian Coman didn't do her homework.   Leon Smith and his paper are not from Crawford TX (Bush country), he lives in Clifton TX (Kerryland) about 40 miles north west.   He's an out-of-towner who gets on fine with his own kind and this making him out to be a principled local editor is BULL! 

This is typical DEMOC dirty tricks and misinformation.

[festus]

Despite his plummeting circulation and the ostracism of his reporters, Mr Smith has no regrets. "We did that editorial based on principle," he said.

Typical leftist logic.

[geopyg]

"He's an out-of-towner who gets on fine with his own kind and this making him out to be a principled local editor is BULL!"

While he complains of "hate mail" -the whole thing was started by his "hate" editorial. Granted - he can write whatever he wants, just don't think he was all high and mighty.

[McLynnan]

How stupid can these liberals get? In Crawford Texas, home of beloved George Bush, of all places?

Oh, it gets even better. Not to be outdone, The Waco Tribune Herald also endorsed Kerry. Then this morning they ran an article advocating the President put his library in Waco on the Baylor campus. Ignorant and arrogant. Perhaps the President will suggest they put the Kerry campaign archives on the Baylor campus. I canceled my subscription.

[Weirdad]

Individuals are under no obligation to become involved with people they do not like. If players and coaches and others involved in an extracurricular activity do not want to be involved with this two-bit guy, they do not have to be.

After all, even major organizations like WorldNetDaily had many teeth to pull to be permitted to be involved with White House press briefings. If those is control do not deem a two-bit "newspaper" (that is probably down to under 200 in legitimate circulation now) to be "serious" enough to warrant consideration, so be it.

[Melas]

Sigh, white house briefings aren't open to the public. I'm questioning how this guys reporters can be barred from covering football games, when you or I could buy a ticket. It doesn't make sense.

[Osage Orange]

The hate mail hasn't stopped," he said.

I really, really doubt that all his mail could be/would be really considered "hate mail"....Maybe...just maybe they were just editorials.

hehehe....