Inconvenient Facts

2 February 2004


Bush is NOT Unopposed in the GOP Race

One may be forgiven for thinking that President Bush is unopposed in his quest for renomination by the Republican Party. The major, and even minor, media have done absolutely nothing to report on those who are challenging the sitting president. It's just another way that the press in the US proves itself to be as lazy as it is biased.

There are some 26 other Republicans running according to the people at Politics1.com. It is a collection of crackpots, no hopers and out-right loonies to be sure. Yet they are registered with the Federal Election Commission. They have garnered as many votes as President Bush has in 2004 -- none. What makes them unworthy of attention from the boys on the bus?

In 1968, Senator Eugene McCarthy ran against President Johnson. He lost the New Hampshire primary, but his tally was so large, LBJ announced he wasn't going to seek re-election. Sometimes, winning in politics doesn't require having the most votes (see the 2000 election). Then, there were a bunch of kids going "Clean for Gene," and they made for a good story, so there was some coverage beforehand. Yet, the media must be very careful in deciding who hasn't got a chance and who has.

Deciding what story to report carries with it a bias. Is Dennis Kucinich really more worthy of debate time against Senators Kerry and Edwards than Blake Ashby is with President Bush? Or is Mr. Kucinich a crackpot as well? And if so, why invite him to the debates? The Reverend Al Sharpton will not be nominated this year, or any year. Why give him a platform in the campaign? Actually, can one imagine the riot that would ensue if he were denied? And where are the reports that follow up on the story in the Concord Monitor of New Hampshire that show President Bush got 87% of the vote -- surely unopposed would mean closer to 100% even if the weird rules of the state make Republicans out of Democrats who voted for Senator McCain 4 years ago.

It is a sad fact that there are voters whose candidate never gets a fair hearing by the electorate because the media decide in advance that the candidate is not serious. It is a harsh thing to say, but nonetheless true, that denying print space and airtime diminishes the democratic process that Americans are taking so seriously these days. Their names are on the ballot, they may even receive matching funds from the government -- but the media won't report on them. Comrade Putin would approve.

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