Suspicious Timing

Stories about Howard Dean's winter in Aspen after he got a medical deferment during the Vietnam War have been around for months -- though not as long as stories about George W. Bush going AWOL during the same period. So why did the Denver Post choose today to run as its lead story a hit piece about Aspenites' recollections of Dean that winter as a "pot smoker" and "loser"?

Well, it probably has something to do with the fact that two of Colorado's neighboring states have primaries on Tuesday. (If touching at the Four Corners counts as "neighboring," then Arizona makes three neighbors with primaries on Tuesday.) I know the Post is circulated in New Mexico; don't know about Oklahoma but I wouldn't be surprised if the story gets picked up there too.

So who is behind this? The story mentions that Dean's service record (or lack thereof) "has been noted in the competition for the Democratic presidential nomination against candidates such as combat veterans Wesley Clark and John Kerry." Hmmm, Chris Lehane works for who now?

Of course I can't prove anything. But if this is what is smells like, an inside job from one of the other Democratic campaigns, there is a lesson to be learned. The So-Called Liberal Local Media won't miss the chance to bash Democrats generally. See the end of the article, where the Post points out that Aspen's "famed limousine liberals" back Dean because of his antiwar stance. Aspen is part of our base, and it is a hotbed of anti-Bush feeling. Doesn't do our side any good to see those people get trashed.

Comments

[Ralph]

The Denver Post doesn't take their marching orders from Democrats (Even quasi-DLC Democrats). They also don't need a reason to trash Democrats.

[Allegory]

Hey, Colorado Luis:

January 26th web edition of Editor and Publisher looks at recent donations to Bush by newspaper publishers. Entitled, "Singleton, Scaife Among Political Contributors," the story says,

""William Dean Singleton, CEO and vice-chairman of MediaNews Group, who also serves as publisher of his flagship The Denver Post, gave a $2,000 contribution to Bush-Cheney as well."

Here's the link --
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=2076212

I'd love to see someone back in my home state run with this. Is Patty Calhoun still holding court at Westword?

Enjoying the blog... hope it catches...

[Luis]

Allegory, thanks for the tip. This will definitely come in handy the next time somebody claims the Post is a house organ of the Democratic Party.

Yes, Patty Calhoun is still at Westword. You can check them out at www.westword.com.