The Sioux Falls Argus Leader's assault on the Governor - Many unhappy returns
At the end of the year in 2005, I offered my opinion that the #6 story of 2005 was the Argus Leader's assault on the Governor. Let's take a look at this little blast from the past:
Hardly a Sunday goes by without a swipe at our State's chief executive by the State's largest newspaper, either in Randall Beck's column or as part of an editorial. The biggest salvo in the war came when the Argus sued the Governor for information on Governor's hunt invitees. And after Judge Max Gors (a Democrat, no less) recently shot the Argus' arguments down, they've continued unbowed.
I look at it this way. If I knew someone was going to walk up to me on a weekly basis and punch me in the nose, why would I go out of my way to talk to them?
As far as I understand it, open records and similar public information are available according to law. Don't think records are open or available enough? It's easy - change the laws. But in reference to interviews, I don't know that a state or federal law that exists that says "You must make yourself available to reporters as they see fit."
So nobody wants to talk to the Argus because they're tired of getting punched in the nose. Why should they be suprised? There are many old sayings about how one shall reap what they sow.
6. Argus Leader’s Assault on the GovernorAnd it hasn't let up. The personalized and mean-spirited assaults have contined since. If anything, it's intensified even further.
The Associated Press considered the Argus Leader’s series of stories of the use of the State Airplane by the Governor as one of its top ten stories. Should that be one of the top ten political stories? Some would argue, yes. But there’s something that has come up since that blurs the focus of that issue for me.
After that series of stories, there have been editorials from the Argus Leader’s editor, Randall Beck. (here, here and here) A story is a story, and that’s fine. But in those editorials from the editor, it’s at least apparent to me that he doesn’t care for our state’s chief executive.
One editorial from Mr. Beck blasted a local group for giving the Governor an award. Another took an additional swipe at him. The tone of these editorials comes off as… well, it certainly seems that he has an ax to grind.
And it takes those stories that they consider serious journalism and places them in a light that some would characterize as partisan.
Hardly a Sunday goes by without a swipe at our State's chief executive by the State's largest newspaper, either in Randall Beck's column or as part of an editorial. The biggest salvo in the war came when the Argus sued the Governor for information on Governor's hunt invitees. And after Judge Max Gors (a Democrat, no less) recently shot the Argus' arguments down, they've continued unbowed.
I look at it this way. If I knew someone was going to walk up to me on a weekly basis and punch me in the nose, why would I go out of my way to talk to them?
As far as I understand it, open records and similar public information are available according to law. Don't think records are open or available enough? It's easy - change the laws. But in reference to interviews, I don't know that a state or federal law that exists that says "You must make yourself available to reporters as they see fit."
So nobody wants to talk to the Argus because they're tired of getting punched in the nose. Why should they be suprised? There are many old sayings about how one shall reap what they sow.
Comments
And, in a way, they are right. There isn't much the Government should be able to keep away from the press.
What I don't like is cutting off access. There is no merit to having to screen comments through a lawyer. It is a vindictive, payback type of thing to do.
You're trivializing it, PP, as the Governor has to protect himself. Not true.
What I don't like is that you seem to be endorsing a cut-and-run tactic. To be accountable to the people, answer the tough questions. We should be glad, at least, that we have ONE paper in the state that is ready to not simply be a mouth piece for the Governor. A paper that will raise the debate and challenge ideas. Society is made healthier in such ways.
I still think the Argus is trying its best to create negative images of Rounds in people's minds for the next gubernatorial election and in case Rounds decides to challenge Tim Johnson someday. I have nothing against a reporter digging for a story, but to create one where none exists and keep harping on it and then suing over it, well like was said, the Argus is reaping the results of what they started.
Honestly, I couldn't believe the cry-baby tone of the two editorials in today's Argus. It isn't only Rounds who people should be accusing of using juvenile tactics.
Besides, if this whole thing is over the Governor's hunt, I'm sure there would be some participant who would be glad to "leak" the list of attendees to the Argus. Why not go that route to get the info? After all, this hunt had to have been conducted in the open, not behind some locked doors somewhere.
That data is apparently available since one of the hunting resorts got reports back from hunters at his place that they were getting soliciations to hunt elsewhere by mail and the only place that data could have come from was the license data.
This might sound like a conspiracy, but I already have my reservations about a insurance man who won't challenge the rising costs of healthcare, but, using the state plane for personal reasons is an abuse. Even if he pays back for costs of fuel, there's still an issue about the wear and tear, or depreciation, of the plan while he is flying it for personal reasons.
As for the Governor's hunt... there's a blurred line between it serving the people of South Dakota and it serving the interests of his reelection. Any records of that nature should be open.
The judge in this case said it would be irresponsible to suggest that state government keep records and make them available for everyone who calls or visits the Governor. I agree. But, in this case, the list is developed, invites are sent out, and I am sure there are other perks.
The way I see it, any requests should be granted. I don't think the Argus, or any paper, would go so far as the abuse the power.
I love that the Argus challenges our government. So many people in South Dakota don't care what happens once officials are elected. Voters will never be able to hold anyone accountable as long as we rely on the government-sponsored mouth pieces. We need an independent information source thats asks the tough questions for us. They look at is as a sense of duty.
Once Rounds was cleared of any wrongdoing by the FAA, the Argus Leader didn't run any prominent story about Rounds being vindicated of any wrong doing. The Argus just wanted to drag the Gov. through the mud. South Dakotans see through the bias.