The Arizona Daily Star doubles-down on its irrelevancy

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Compounding the error of its ways, the Arizona Daily Star doubles-down on its irrelevancy today in this bizarre editorial opinion which purports to explain its orginal error. Some background on endorsement of Vogt for council:

The Star's decision to endorse Tyler Vogt, a Republican, over the incumbent Democrat Shirley Scott in the Ward 4 Tucson City Council race caused consternation among at least a few readers. They wrote to ask why we support a candidate who wouldn't even speak with us.

 [Excellent question.]

Some background is in order. Before we make an endorsement, we gather information in several ways. We read news coverage [well, not in the Star because they do so little reporting on campaigns] and candidates' position papers, and sometimes attend public forums [rarely]. Most candidates accept our invitation to meet as well.

* * *

Vogt issued a press release saying he'd decided against meeting with us.

* * *

It didn't quite make sense to us, but it was Vogt's decision to make. We asked him to reconsider. He stuck to his position but said he would answer questions in writing.

We do not believe answering questions in writing substitutes for face-to-face discussion, but it's our job to get information even when there are obstacles. So we emailed Vogt a long list of questions and he replied.

Ah, but did he? How does this editor know for certain that it was Vogt who drafted the responses to written questions? I posit to you that this editor does not know. It could have been ghost-written by one of the political operatives hired by the Tea-Publican Tucson City Council candidates, GOP voter suppression specialist Nathan Sproul of Tempe-based Lincoln Strategy, or the D.C. firm Stevens, Reed Curcio and Potholm who are responsible for Vogt's "Swift Boat" attack ads. The Phisher King, Tyler Vogt, spamming Tucsonans with 'Swift Boat' ad.

Vogt could be a stealth candidate entirely fabricated by GOP media consultants for all this editor knows. As for the self-aggrandizing claim that "it's our job to get information even when there are obstacles," the editors of the Star clearly did not make any effort. Who do they think they are kidding?

And what about all the illegal campaign funds from the Arizona Republican Party that the Star has failed to investigate and to report? Arizona Republican Party and its Tucson city council candidates violate campaign-finance laws – so where's the investigation? Isn't this a question of charcter?

But here is where the utter mendacity of the Star's endorsement is revealed (it is enough to make one throw up a little):

"On paper, Vogt's use of phrases such as "focus on the common goals' and 'a cooperative environment' between business and government indicate that he has the right perspective to solve the many challenges facing the city."

We point this out only because Vogt is using the Star's endorsement in advertisements – and because of a lovely handwritten note we received in the post.

"AZ Daily Star: I wanted to thank you again for your endorsement. I am struggling to find the words that will correctly express my humble gratitude. I look forward to our open and honest conversations. Very Best Regards, Tyler Vogt."

Say what you will about Vogt, he has impeccable manners in the thank-you note department.

Here's a handerkerchief. You need to wipe your mouth after all that ass-kissing.

I don't believe I have ever seen an editorial which purports to explain an endorsement. It was really just a vehicle for the Star to endorse Tyler Vogt a second time, just before the election blackout window goes into effect on Friday and no responses will be published in the Star. How convenient.

I hope the Star made certain that Vogt's checks for all the advertising that he purchased in the newspaper and on its web site cleared first. I'm sure this advertising revenue had nothing to do with its editorial opinions. Riiiight.

When advertising revenue determines editorial content, it undermines the credibility of the Arizona Daily Star as a legitimate news source and reduces the Star to irrelevancy.