Primary Election Coverage: A TODAY'S 6 NEWS EXCLUSIVE! ... NOT!

I cannot tell you how proud I am to say the KIVI-TV 6 was the only local television station to cover the Idaho Primary election.  The only one!  Talk about an unparalleled commitment to excellence!  Sure, turnout was low, so interest wasn't that high, but for people concerned about this significant event, KIVI-TV 6 was the only television station covering it

That's because we began a 9pm.  Sure, Channel 12 was on at 9pm as well, but that was their regularly scheduled newscast.  They did some election coverage, but they also needlessly watered it down with weather and sports information.  Our special in-depth coverage beginning at 9pm focused solely on the primary.

And yes, Channels 2 and 7 offered some primary coverage beginning at 10pm, but that was a whole hour after we started, which means from 9-10pm, KIVI-TV 6 was the only television station covering the primary in-depth, which in turn means we were the only station covering the primary at all!

This somewhat twisted justification is what might be referred to as 'Jim Risch logic.'  Risch, in his quest to become U.S. Senator, recently put out a campaign ad stating he cut property taxes by $200 million.  His ad neglects to mention to 1 cent sales tax increase also imposed during the special session he called while Governor to offset the loss of $200 million in revenue.  So how can Risch justify the ad?  He told the 'Idaho Statesman' the property tax cut technically took place before the sales tax increase did, thus for a few months, the claim is true.  So using 'Jim Risch logic,' KIVI-TV 6 was the only station to cover Idaho's primary election. 

I confess I'm not a big fan of 'Jim Risch logic,' because it makes all of the following 'true-for-a-time' headlines viable today.

• Hitler's Forces in Command of Europe
• Supreme Court Agrees 'Separate-but-equal' Schools are Constitutional
• Newfangled Internet Declared 'Just a Fad'
• Jim Risch Downplays Fact He is Rather Short

Actually, that last one is a bad example because it is still true, but Risch's claim of a $200 million tax cut is no longer true.  Even mathematically, it's a 'half-truth.'

It reminded me of a 'Legislative Opinion Ballot' sent to me (at taxpayer's expense no less) by Rep. Bill Sali many months ago.  It was a mailer on illegal immigration, and the ballot contained just two choices.

• Yes!  Congressman Sali, I strongly support a renewed emphasis on fixing our illegal immigration problems focusing on border enforcement, no amnesty, English as the official language and enforcing existing immigration laws.
• No!  We must find a way to allow illegal immigrants to stay in our country without penalty.

There wasn't even a 'None of the Above' box.  You know, the box Republican Presidential nominee John McCain would have wanted to check had Sali sent the survey to him.

I smiled when I read it because if one of my reporters had asked Sali such a leading question in the manner that he asked his constituents, his Communications Director Wayne Hoffman would have called me and (justifiably) been absolutely livid.  I suppose I really don't mind that the news media is held to a higher standard than our elected officials.  But is that any way to run a country?

Does Jim Risch really have no other compelling message for his election to the United States Senate than to give us a 'half-truth' about his big accomplishment during his short service as Governor?  Is it really necessary for Rep. Sali to use a taxpayer funded opinion ballot to ram his views on immigration down our throat rather than earnestly seeking the views of his constituency on this issue and then listening to them?

My frustration with some politicians is they often seem all too eager to distort reality in order to gain and maintain elected office.  And when politicians distort ... when they only give us half the story ... or when they try to bully us into agreeing with them rather than truly listening to us ... they risk making us believe they are doing it because they really don't have a legitimate case to serve us at all.  They also are insulting voters' intelligence when they should be learning from it.

I have never seen this kind of behavior out of Sen. Mike Crapo or Rep. Mike Simpson, two men with extraordinarily safe seats because of their distinguished service and professional behavior.  Nor have I seen it out of Risch's or Sali's Democrat opponents, Larry LaRocco and Walt Minnick.  Both Democrats are longshots to be sure, but their odds will improve if either Risch or Sali are willing to cede to them the high road.

Comments

[JoAnn Busch]

And, during the times when all stations were covering the election, Today's 6 was clearly superior in (1) quickly relaying election return information and (2)analysis with regards to what it all means.