Wednesday, October 25th, 2006...6:50 am
Where Was the Republic?
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So, both the Washington Post and the Associated Press have stories out about the federal investigation of Rick Renzi’s land swap. This morning, a story about the deal appeared in the Arizona Republic. My question is, why does it seem the Republic is the last to know?
Last week, the Republic issued a fawning endorsement of Renzi. Ironically, one of the things that they praised him for was land-swap legislation. The New Times, the Arizona Daily Sun and even the Sierra Vista Herald had already run stories on land swap bills that, even if one didn’t know about the legal problems, smelled fishy. So, why did our state’s paper of record give an endorsement of the guy if this was afoot?
10 Comments
October 25th, 2006 at 8:19 am
Maybe the Republic waited so they would not print misleading information like “is sitting on the indictment until after the election” that was in your October 22nd story.
October 25th, 2006 at 8:40 am
Kid-
Here is what I had said:
The allegation that is being discussed in political and press circles up in Phoenix is that Paul Charlton, a Bush appointee, is sitting on the indictment until after the election.
It was being discussed, right?
October 25th, 2006 at 9:14 am
Perhaps they were having trouble deciding which probe to report on: Federal authorities in Arizona have opened an inquiry into whether Representative Rick Renzi introduced legislation that benefited a military contractor that employs his father
October 25th, 2006 at 10:25 am
The Arizona Republic
You report. We decide.
October 25th, 2006 at 1:04 pm
David Schlosser, the Libertarian candidate for Arizona’s first district in the U.S. House of Representatives, today made the following statement regarding news reports of two separate Federal investigations into the political and business activities of incumbent Republican Congressman Rick Renzi.
“Americans deserve a higher standard from their elected representatives than ‘innocent until proven guilty.’ Voters disgusted by the corrupting influence of money, politics, and special interests in Congress have a real choice in Arizona’s First District.
“By choosing the change and leadership represented by my commitments to smaller and limited government, simpler and fairer taxes, term limits, donating special-interest contributions to charity, and rejecting Congressional raises until we balance the Federal budget, voters can send a clear message that they no longer tolerate politics as usual.
“Reports of Federal investigations into Congressman Renzi’s business and political activities demonstrate the importance of informed voting. Congressman Renzi has refused to engage his constituents in public events during this election. Perhaps he will reconsider his contemptuous refusal to debate now that the Department of Justice is asking the same kind of questions as his constituents.”
October 25th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
Maybe Phx kid should start his own blog and show us all how to do it.
October 25th, 2006 at 4:12 pm
PhxKid,
The land deal was a story before the federal review, but the Republic didn’t cover it, even though the New Times had a very detailed piece. Two weeks later, it is a matter of record that the feds are looking into it, and numerous print sources have covered it, including the Washington Post. Are you really going to defend the Republic when it has yet to mention a story that has appearned in the Washington Post?
azdemwatchdog
October 25th, 2006 at 5:09 pm
Hey, I put up a post on ‘excercising due caution and diligence’ on my blog in regard to the investigation (though I’d done the land deal story much earlier.) So I admit being TOO cautious in that regard (though I’ve named the blogger who broke the story in a post today.)
That said, it has to be embarrassing to the editors of the Republic to endorse Renzi and then have this drop in their laps just ahead of the election.
And Eckeric: Maybe both probes are just a smokescreen and they are really investigating the Patty Roe scandal.
October 25th, 2006 at 11:26 pm
You are all making my case for me. From the sounds of it there are so many things going on at the same time the Republic was trying to sort out one investigation from another before printing anything. Touché.
October 26th, 2006 at 1:00 pm
For their long record of failing to report on the numerous ethical lapses and scandals involving Rick Renzi, the Republic was sure quick on the draw this morning with a big article on page A-3 claiming the whole thing is a ‘political trick.’
Sounds like Rick Renzi can pretty much fire his whole P.R. department and save some money, he’s got the Republic doing all the work for him.
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