June 09, 2004
Funny 'Oregonian' Editorial Accuses Others Of Misrepresentation
One of our favorite sports here at PORTLAND COMMUNIQUE is watching public figures charge people with behavior which they themselves actually engage in. Today's case in point, an Oregonian editorial on the failed recall effort against Multnomah County commissioners. For our purposes, the editorial board of our newspaper of record counts as a "public figure."
The collapse this week of the recall campaigns against two of Multnomah County's leaders offered another opportunity for them to reform their approach to open, public decision-making.
...
But true to form, the county's leaders missed the opportunity this week to take to heart the lessons of their near miss.
County Commissioner Lisa Naito instead took a moment Monday to misrepresent things. She said, "I knew from the beginning that gay marriage would be a volatile issue and there would be a lot of people against it. But I stand by our decision. This group was a single-issue group and I can now put this behind me. There's still important work to be done."
We're assuming that the sticking point in the above bit for The Oregonian was Naito's dismissal of the recall backers as being a "single-issue group." Problem is, that's exactly what they are.
No matter how much The Oregonian and others try to dress up the recall as being inspired by the "process issue," all of the spokespeople for opposition to the involved County commissioners in fact are opposed to same-sex marriage itself. While there are, of course, County residents who criticized the process but support same-sex marriage, they have never been the ones spearheading -- or even being much involved in -- the efforts to oust the commissioners in question.
This has always been opposition to same-sex marriage dressed up in the guise of criticisms of public process. In truth, The Oregonian knows this. But since it, too, opposes same-sex marriage, it's perfectly willing to (yes) misrepresent the matter to serve its own political purposes.
We have a substantial problem with that tactic, whether it's used by politicians or so-called journalists. But for The Oregonian, it's a tactic that's woefully, well, true to form.
Comments (5)
John on 10 Jun 2004
Your points are right on target, B!x... They're going down the same slanted, result-oriented road they used on the assisted suicide issue. Hopefully they'll pull back before they become as much of an embarassment this time.
Marko on 10 Jun 2004
Right on, B!X!
That editorial board is a joke. Do you remember their bit about how it would be really nice to be having a debate about civil unions, instead of gay marriage? What unbelievably condescending claptrap. Yeah, then maybe they wouldn't be so obviously outmatched by the weight of the issues.
They not only write these puffy, fatuous, provincial and self-righteous pieces putting downs gays and the homeless, they also have the gall to get upset when the public doesn't fall lockstep behind their leaden clarion call.
Meanwhile, they come off like a PR newsletter for an admitted pedophile.
You're coverage is not only more nuanced, it's also more relevant than the Oregonian's editorial writers. Keep up the great work.
The One True b!X on 10 Jun 2004
Do you remember their bit about how it would be really nice to be having a debate about civil unions, instead of gay marriage?
Yes. Heh.
Keith on 10 Jun 2004
You're right on the mark, here. And The Oregonian's editorial board supports civil unions over marriage, even though -- as far as I can tell -- the paper has never covered the topic of civil unions vs. marriage.
This editorial was pure spin, and nothing more. The sad thing is they have a lock on this market as far as newspapers go, there's no alternative.
hilsy on 10 Jun 2004
The sad thing is they have a lock on this market as far as newspapers go, there's no alternative.
But only as daily newspapers go. The Trib and Willy Week just continue to outscoop the Big O. It was telling to read in the Big O the same story this week about NG attempting to get the young woman jobs, the day after it was reported in the Trib.
And, at least some of us have our fearless B!x.