Times Union Publisher Rex Smith pontificates candidate coverage;
" So let's say you woke up one morning and decided the patriotic thing to do was to run for public office -- to offer yourself to voters as a servant of their interests, determined to do something good for your community."
What responsibility do you think the news media would have to let voters know something about you? How much of the space in the pages of this newspaper, and how much airtime on local television and radio, would you expect to get?
My current answer is NONE. Admittedly a little miffed at the cold stance of the TU and its coverage of this campaign initially, it is possible not to worry about them now. It is your paper Mr. Smith and you have all the power and right to do as you please. I am a libertarian, if you choose to operate your business in a certain way, it's not my business. Of course there is another view then Rex's on this.
In my business, Information Technology, I provide answers and services related to a business and their computer systems. One would hope that a 'news' paper would cover all candidates on a nominal level, if they are in fact on the ballot. That is a simple courtesy to your customers. They don't have to like competition on the ballot.
As a candidate for the 20th I'm perfectly happy NOT to be covered by the Times Union. If the estimated 5 million dollars to be spent on the respective campaigns, gets the coverage that you ply, I feel bad for your customers. Traffic tickets, personal habits, residency issues and a host of equally banal activity and comment has been the hallmark of your coverage.
Despite devoting more in personal resources then either of my opponents, I am perfectly happy with average user visits on my website of 250 a day. I have done this despite your paper. I am happy with 2.4% of the Zogby poll as earned, not a default position in the voting booth. I am happy to distribute the campaign via public access television.
If Mr. Redlich's total of 29% in an historically Democratic district merits his discontinuance or limited coverage, how does one reconcile the coverage to a candidate who is only polling at 26% ? Is money the sole factor in one candidate's appearance in print and blogs ? Certainly not, it's the extreme dislike for a minor level bureaucrat 'appointed' to Congress.
I am also happy with discussing issues with people and other press outlets. If 'historic inevitability' is what guides your coverage, so be it. There will be issues not covered by the candidates that I will cover. Declaring future wars, insurmountable debt and personal responsibility will have a voice. It's not my problem if the outrage of our current system isn't sufficiently placed in your priority of civics lessons.