Media Criticism

One of the great myths promoted by mainstream media is that most Congressional races are out of reach for challengers. The reason why most voters don’t select challengers is that they do not have ready access to information on these candidates. Many candidates for state offices cannot afford a full-time operation including storefront offices, updated websites and street teams. Every voter should be willing to conduct their own candidate research but media outlets do not make the task any easier.

I will use the race for Wisconsin’s First Congressional District as an example. Every analyst, political science professor and pundit I hear speaking about this race gives it to incumbent Paul Ryan. There is no allowance given for Ryan’s close connection to the poorly-held George W. Bush (more lap dog than friend) nor the vigorous debate going on among candidates for the Democratic primary in September.

Two of the four challengers, Marge Krupp and Paulette Garin, have websites as well as support from local organizations. Nine-time candidate Dr. Jeff Thomas and second-time candidate Mike Herbert do not have a Web presence at the writing of this post. Krupp has help from a professional political consultant though her goal for $1 million before the general election seems unlikely. The four Democratic candidates held a debate in Elkhorn (about an hour southwest of Milwaukee) in late February that received little attention. The fact that Paul Ryan is given the election eight months ahead of Election Day has not stopped people for going door-to-door for all four candidates.

I think Marge Krupp will end up winning the Democratic primary due to the desire (almost desperation) for a polished candidate to face off against Ryan. I like Paulette Garin due to her stances on health care and Iraq but the momentum seems to favor Krupp. The general election will be tough to win for Krupp but I think she will give the incumbent a tough race. I think that Krupp may benefit from the trend toward Democrats at the top of the ballot including stories by local newspapers and TV stations about up-and-coming candidates. In the end, I hope that Ryan can be deposed from his position by a vice-presidential bid or a successful candidacy by one of these Democratic candidates if only to prove that incumbency is not king.