Local Political Insider column biased against Democrats
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Desert Observer's Page The Desert Sun's weekly Political Insider column continues to reflect the right-leaning, anti-Democratic bias of Erica Solvig, its founding columnist. Ms Solvig does not include objectivity as one of the criteria in her reportorial bag of tricks. Political "spin" is her stock in trade for she likes to put a little negative twist on much of what she writes. And, her spin targets are usually Democrats. |
Readers who question whether Erica Solvig exhibits bias in her reporting need to review when and how often her column talks about the GOP and its candidates. This past week up-for-reelection Congresswoman Mary Mack sent a government paid mailer to district residents. You could certainly spin that little gem into an interesting Political Insider story and if Mrs Mack were a Democrat, I have no doubt that would have been the case. But Mrs Mack is a Republican, and it would never happen! The Desert Sun and reporter Erica Solvig are solidly in Mrs Mack's camp and you'll never see political spin or anything negative about their GOP congresswoman in the Political Insider.
This campaign season we have a number of interesting municipal races occurring here in the valley. How will they be covered in the Political Insider column? Which political party candidates will be mentioned most often? And, which party candidates will most often be the targets of negative political "spin"? My bet on both counts is that Democrats will be the bull's eye of choice. One item is almost a certainty - there'll be little change in the right-leaning Political Insider so long as the columns are written by Erica Solvig.
Bond Shands
Palm Springs
August 11, 2008
There isn't anyone in this valley who can give "the news" with such clarity. You may not always agree with our editor but what would we do without this information? I am truly impressed with his knowledge, can't beat that. Keep on informing us!
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Thanks for the kind words. Your comments and support are always appreciated.
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It appears Ms. Solvig's Political Insider column takes its marching orders from the paper's general management and the directives handed down from their Gannett parents. In June, I submitted a letter to the Editors commenting on Mrs. Mack's absence from her district and her constituents during the long Memorial Day weekend. She had chosen to spend the time with her most recent husband at his Florida home, instead. I pointed out that voters in the 45th CD need a full-time representative; not one who will be splitting her time between Florida and her constituents here in the desert. The paper chose not to publish my letter, even though they clearly need letters to fill their opinion page. This was another indication that they will not tolerate any dissent or negative comments about Mrs. Mack. I have observed this bias on their part over the past 3 election cycles for the 45th CD. Apparently, nothing has changed.
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Your experience in submitting letters and having them ignored/rejected by The Desert Sun, is similar to my own. My last letter, on July 13th, never saw the light of day. And that was true of two others sent earlier in the year.
It appears the newspaper has discontinued serious community dialog pages for their space devoted to letters has decreased significantly from that of years recently past. They've also become even more selective in their choice of letters to print and certain political topics along with criticism of the paper itself, don't appear to qualify under the new rules.
The next time you have see a letter ignored, send it along and I'll post it here.
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will do!
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