Posted on 06/05/2003 6:24:39 AM PDT by Elkiejg
WASHINGTON (Talon News) -- A potential candidate for the United States Senate has called on South Dakota's leading newspaper to disclose one of its reporter's ties to Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD).
Sioux Falls businessman Neal Tapio issued a press release Tuesday in which he demanded the Argus Leader reveal to readers the relationship that its top political reporter has with the three-term Senator.
The connection that Tapio makes between Daschle and David Kranz, who has covered politics for 30 years, began at South Dakota State University in 1968. Daschle was president of the Political Science club that staged a mock Democrat Convention. Kranz was Daschle's publicity chairman, but wrote an article praising Daschle as a reporter for the South Dakota Collegian without disclosing that relationship.
Tapio highlights the ethical lapse and implies that relationship may have continued to influence his reporting. In his press release he says, "It is no secret that many in South Dakota have been suspicious of the manner in which Kranz spins political stories."
Tapio cites articles in the New York Times and Roll Call that have noted how Kranz and the Argus Leader have "unfairly reported on Republican office-holders." He maintains that the newspaper's refusal to report Daschle's low polling numbers and his wife Linda's lobbying activities on behalf of the airline industry, Boeing, and Schering-Plough are further evidence of pro-Daschle bias.
Talon News contacted the Argus Leader Executive Editor Randell Beck for a response to Tapio's allegations. Beck refused to permit Kranz to be interviewed saying, "He works for me and I'm not going to allow Dave to get into a pissing match with a guy who makes this stuff up."
While Beck did not refute Tapio's charges, he said that Tapio has "taken some facts and embellished them" to give a false impression. Beck defended Kranz, telling Talon News, "He's one of the finest political reporters in the country."
Tapio implied a double standard when he said, "The Argus Leader has demanded full disclosure, open meetings, and transparent government in the past."
"Now the Argus Leader must apply such principals to itself," Tapio continued.
Until the extent of the relationship between Kranz and Daschle is revealed, Tapio suggests that Kranz be "forbidden to cover matters related to Senator Daschle and the 2004 Senate race." Tapio further said, "After full disclosure, it may be necessary for Kranz to be walled off from any reporting or discussions relating to Senator Daschle."
Let's now try to imagine President Bush shopping a book deal while still in office, and how cheerfully the press would report about it. Uh-huh.
Daschle's book is about September 11 and the anthrax attacks. I don't think he should be treated any less harshly than President Bush was for a PICTURE of him on Air Force One on 9/11.
It would be a "short story".
They are starting to be exposed and taken down. Note how Howell Raines and Boyd just resigned from the ultimate fish wrap, the NYSlime. This is all too good. Somebody pinch me....the left wing propaganda machine is self destructing before our eyes.
As the recently disgraced DOMESTIC DIVA would say - IT'S A GOOD THING!!
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