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Thursday, April 02, 2009

The Daily Times Stinks

by "Melanie", posted without permission by Two Sentz

We've been watching as the Daily Times marches steadily towards its endorsement of Gary Comegys, thinking that they couldn't possibly be more biased. Today, they set a new low. In an article about potential voter fraud in Salisbury, the Times quotes Jim Ireton and Gary Comegys, and then goes to another source for his insight: A FRIGGIN' MEMBER OF SAPOA! When asked whether he thought landlords were buying votes, the landlord, shockingly, accused Ireton of claiming this as a simple campaign ploy. Unbelievable. Their "expert" witness is a member of SAPOA and he finds that there is no campaign fraud from SAPOA.

Here's what the Daily Times knows but did not tell you: there were 3 witnesses to the "alleged" claim of voter fraud, 1 of whom who has no affiliation whatsoever with Jim's campaign. They also did not tell you a member of Comegys' campaign team was in the area just before the "alleged" claim took place. They also did not tell you that Comegys had to file his financial report yesterday, and guess which organization completely dominates his fundraising? Wait for it . . . wait for it . . . SAPOA! Entirely coincidental, I'm sure.

So the Daily Times makes it appear as though Jim Ireton threw out a rash charge (which I'm sure will be a big feature of their endorsement of Comegys), knowing everything that I have reported here.

The sad truth is that the majority of Salisbury voters look to the Daily Times for their news, and the elderly in particular do not read blogs or even Story Chat. So the Daily Times account is gospel. If I were voting soley based on what the Daily Times has reported, I would believe that Jim Ireton is an irrational guy who hates Salisbury and wants to work part time as mayor to destroy the city, while Gary Comegys is the voice of reason out to represent all of the people of Salisbury.

It is time to roll up our sleeves and get serious. If you haven't done so, write a letter in support of Jim Ireton (you can do it online in the "contact us" section). Volunteer this weekend. Talk to your neighbors. If you have friends and family members who live in the retirement communities, please talk to them. It is difficult enough to win a campaign against an establishment candidate with lots of money, but far more difficult when the local newspaper abrogates its responsibility to be unbiased in the news section.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Was Bubba's backer "Baloney" at or near the crime scene?

Reconciled1 said...

If they watch the news like my grandparents do then at least maybe they will get some of the other side...

Reconciled1 said...

And you're surprized, why?

Tidewaterbound said...

The Daily Times got flushed as soon as Mel Toadvine left -- simply put. Everything they have done since has been bought and sold, just like their souls.

The media is supposed to be unbiased, the DT hasn't been in decades, it's a JOKE.

What sincerely concerns me is our local TV media is either avoiding certain truths or there are a lot of backdoor friends pulling strings.

For such a major election pending with so much at stake, and so MUCH going on, and so MUCH to report, you'd think a lot more attention and indepth investigative reporting would be happening. I get the feeling that both local TV stations would rather simply skirt the entire issue and give it as little attention as possible trying to lessen any ties or involvement they have with those who have been pulling the strings for a long time.

The news media SHOULD be above any political influence, but that ideal has gone by the wayside long, long ago, not just here, but all over.

It used to be that politicians FEARED the media, helped to keep them in check.

It's such a bad joke and we're all paying for it now.

Anonymous said...

Folks, I agree that Comegys is bad but Ireton in his politics is way far left than Comegys. I cannot in good conscience support Ireton's far left agenda.

Anonymous said...

3:03,
Yeah, getting more police on the street is a radical left wing agenda. Please. That is his pledge, and that is his focus.

Anonymous said...

Anon 3:03 - just what is Ireton's "far left agenda?" He's promoting fiscal conservatism with our tax dollars, environmental responsibility with cleaning up our poluted river, civic accountability with open government, and social responsibility to get more police on the streets to help fight crime and protect the citizens. When did old fashioned values and common sense become part of a "far left agenda?"

Tidewaterbound said...

If nothing else think fiscal responsibility, most importantly the lack we've seen over recent years, it's NOT going to get any better w/Comegys.

If you question that, go check the spending and for WHAT, scary stuff that you will spend decades paying for.

Anonymous said...

3:03 has a point- there's no good choice in this election. It's either the evil you know or the one you kind of know. Your taxes are going up, maybe more-so under Ireton's never ending policy ideas than Comegy's know penchant for frivolous spending. Either way, the train wreck circus that is Salisbury will continue into the foreseeable future. It's unavoidable with the choices that came out of the primary and the likelihood that the council will be an opposing force to the new mayor. Gridlock may be the best thing for Salisbury for a while.

Anonymous said...

Anon 3:03
"I cannot in good conscience support Ireton's far left agenda."

Whoa! WHAT far left agenda? Please explain that to us all. I have yet to see anything I'd call even a hint of that from Ireton, except via the rumors that float in from the Comegys side.

Orsonwells said...

Anon 354. read 312's comment twice and come back to us on that.

Go Jim!

Anonymous said...

3:54, This is obviously your attempt to start a "write-in" campaign for Bob Caldwell. It's pretty transparent. Your guy lost. Sometimes that happens. I wish Caldwell would have beaten Comegys. Then we would have been able to have a civil campaign without the Barrie/Gary mudslinging. But, unfortunately, he didn't. Now you have the opportunity to back the best one that is left.

Anonymous said...

I backed Bob Caldwell, but you bet your ___ that I'm voting Ireton.

As much as Bob stood up to Comegys, Smith, Shields and Tilghman, any Caldwell supporter that doesn't vote for Ireton does Bob a disservice.

Bob promoted open government. No question about Ireton on that. Comegys ain't that! Bob is more fiscally conservative that Ireton, but Ireton's definitely smarter about money than "Bubba's Math."

God Almighty, does anyone want four more years of that woman?

Anonymous said...

303 is from Bubba's Camp and I am quite confident they aren't city residents or tax payers.