amicus
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London Guardian Seeks to Rally Voters Against Bush
BY JAMIE DETTMER - Special to the Sun
October 15, 2004
WASHINGTON - A liberal British newspaper's campaign to influence the White House race, by having its readers write to undecided voters in a key county in the must-win state of Ohio, has prompted senior Republican lawmakers to question whether the Capitol Hill press accreditation should be withdrawn from the publication's two Washington correspondents.
The write-in campaign started this week by the London-based, 400,000-circulation Guardian, is focused on Ohio's Clark County and is seen as a bid to deliver the state to Democrat John Kerry. Readers are being encouraged by the paper to sign up by e-mail to receive the names and mailing addresses of Clark County voters and are advised to be courteous in their missives.
"Remember that it's unusual to receive a lobbying letter from someone in another country," the paper cautions.
"We've zeroed in on one of the places where this year's election truly will be decided: Clark County, Ohio, which is balanced on a razor's edge between Republicans and Democrats," the paper advises its readers.
The Guardian's feature's editor, Ian Katz, himself a former Washington correspondent, said: "The result of the U.S. election will affect the lives of millions around the world, but those of us outside America had no say until now and this is a way to influence the election."
He told The New York Sun: "This election will have far more of an impact on our lives than even elections in our own country, and this is a way for non-Americans to express their opinions."
House Speaker Dennis Hastert is unimpressed, however, by what the Guardian calls its "public service." His spokesman, John Feehery, said the Guardian's campaign is partisan and therefore "unethical" and "inappropriate" for a newspaper.
"We tend to let the Standing Committee of Correspondents decide on accreditation status in the press galleries, but the Guardian's action raises serious questions, and we would hope the committee will look at all of this very closely. It is a clear problem and the position of their journalists is untenable," Mr. Feehery told the Sun.
The Senate and House press galleries are run by a standing committee of five journalists, who are elected for terms of two years by accredited members of the galleries. Membership in the press galleries is limited to "bona fide correspondents of repute in their profession," but the standing committee also takes into consideration the nature of the publications they work for.
Mr. Katz denies that the write-in campaign's goal is to swing the election Mr. Kerry's way.
"The article launching the campaign is absolutely neutral," he insisted. He said the paper includes "information for supporters of both main candidates" and provides contact details for the conservative Christian Coalition among organizations to which readers can send money without falling afoul of American election laws.
But he acknowledged that it is "no secret we are center-left and that we are highly critical of George Bush and that our readers are pro-Kerry."
In the article launching the campaign, the paper says, "There's no point being coy about Britain's preferences in this election (never mind those of Guardian readers)."
A United Kingdom poll last month put backing for Mr. Kerry at 47% against 16% for Mr. Bush. The article launching the letter-writing initiative's tone also inclines toward Mr. Kerry.
Republicans note that all the letters on the campaign from prominent British figures that the Guardian has so far published in its pages, and sent online to Clark County voters, are anti-Bush......"
Just curious as to why there are no comments on this British foray into American politics. We shud maybe embargo tea and crumpets and use the Guardian for fish&chips in Piccadilly?
amicus...
BY JAMIE DETTMER - Special to the Sun
October 15, 2004
WASHINGTON - A liberal British newspaper's campaign to influence the White House race, by having its readers write to undecided voters in a key county in the must-win state of Ohio, has prompted senior Republican lawmakers to question whether the Capitol Hill press accreditation should be withdrawn from the publication's two Washington correspondents.
The write-in campaign started this week by the London-based, 400,000-circulation Guardian, is focused on Ohio's Clark County and is seen as a bid to deliver the state to Democrat John Kerry. Readers are being encouraged by the paper to sign up by e-mail to receive the names and mailing addresses of Clark County voters and are advised to be courteous in their missives.
"Remember that it's unusual to receive a lobbying letter from someone in another country," the paper cautions.
"We've zeroed in on one of the places where this year's election truly will be decided: Clark County, Ohio, which is balanced on a razor's edge between Republicans and Democrats," the paper advises its readers.
The Guardian's feature's editor, Ian Katz, himself a former Washington correspondent, said: "The result of the U.S. election will affect the lives of millions around the world, but those of us outside America had no say until now and this is a way to influence the election."
He told The New York Sun: "This election will have far more of an impact on our lives than even elections in our own country, and this is a way for non-Americans to express their opinions."
House Speaker Dennis Hastert is unimpressed, however, by what the Guardian calls its "public service." His spokesman, John Feehery, said the Guardian's campaign is partisan and therefore "unethical" and "inappropriate" for a newspaper.
"We tend to let the Standing Committee of Correspondents decide on accreditation status in the press galleries, but the Guardian's action raises serious questions, and we would hope the committee will look at all of this very closely. It is a clear problem and the position of their journalists is untenable," Mr. Feehery told the Sun.
The Senate and House press galleries are run by a standing committee of five journalists, who are elected for terms of two years by accredited members of the galleries. Membership in the press galleries is limited to "bona fide correspondents of repute in their profession," but the standing committee also takes into consideration the nature of the publications they work for.
Mr. Katz denies that the write-in campaign's goal is to swing the election Mr. Kerry's way.
"The article launching the campaign is absolutely neutral," he insisted. He said the paper includes "information for supporters of both main candidates" and provides contact details for the conservative Christian Coalition among organizations to which readers can send money without falling afoul of American election laws.
But he acknowledged that it is "no secret we are center-left and that we are highly critical of George Bush and that our readers are pro-Kerry."
In the article launching the campaign, the paper says, "There's no point being coy about Britain's preferences in this election (never mind those of Guardian readers)."
A United Kingdom poll last month put backing for Mr. Kerry at 47% against 16% for Mr. Bush. The article launching the letter-writing initiative's tone also inclines toward Mr. Kerry.
Republicans note that all the letters on the campaign from prominent British figures that the Guardian has so far published in its pages, and sent online to Clark County voters, are anti-Bush......"
Just curious as to why there are no comments on this British foray into American politics. We shud maybe embargo tea and crumpets and use the Guardian for fish&chips in Piccadilly?
amicus...
