[Peace-discuss] Fair & balanced at CBS

[C. G. Estabrook]

	Chicago Affiliate Won’t Cover GOP Senate Candidate
	if He Continues to Hammer Dem Opponent on Bank Scandal
	Posted by Larry O'Connor May 5th 2010

Reporting on politics, “The Chicago Way.”

The Illinois Senate race is shaping up to be a high-profile and influential 
campaign that will have national implications.  Not only because Illinois is the 
most populated state in the mid-west, but also because the seat up for grabs is 
President Obama’s former seat.  If Republican candidate Rep. Mark Kirk, were to 
win the seat it would be seen as an enormous PR loss for the White House.

The Democratic nominee, Alexi Giannoulias has been under fire because of the 
failiure of Broadway Bank and his direct connection to it.  Believe it or not, 
there are suspicions of corruption, incompetence  and graft with regard to a 
Democrat in Chicago.  Go figure!

Obviously, this is such a damaging story for Giannoulias that Rep. Kirk has been 
able to gain some serious traction in the race by continuing to focus on the 
issue.  That’s what a politician does when engaged in a tough campaign (Sen. 
John McCain’s Presidential campaign notwithstanding).

Now we have the spectacle of one of the major local stations in Chicago 
threatening not to cover the campaign if the Republican continues to discuss the 
most damaging aspect of his opponent’s record.  Is this the role of an FCC 
licensed station, entrusted with the role of serving the public interest in 
relation to a free-flow of information for the citizenry?  Maybe in Chicago it is.

REPORTER:  Channel 2’s made a decision.  We’re really not going to cover the 
Senate race, if it’s consistently only in your terms, is about Broadway Bank. 
The bank’s been taken over by the government, Alexi’s been pilloried.  Tell me, 
what is your campaign going forward?  What are the issues you are going to tell 
the voters why they should vote for you?

Hear the entire segment from Chicago’s WLS-AM 890 Don Wade and Roma Show.

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