Day: April 17, 2008

Pennsylvania — It’s Not All Deer Hunters

Buck Banks

As Hillary Clinton slams back boilermakers and talks gun talk in Pennsylvania and Barack Obama parses the bitterness of denizens of the Rust Belt, it’s worth noting that, according to 2006 U.S. Census data, Pennsylvanians are pretty much like most everybody else in the United States. Here are some mildly interesting stats:

  • Median age: Pennsylvania 39.5; U.S. 36.4
  • Women: 51.4%; 50.7%
  • White alone, not Hispanic or Latino: 82.1%; 66.4%
  • Black alone: 10.7%; 12.8%
  • Hispanic or Latino: 4.2%; 14.8%
  • Median household income: $46,259; $48,451
  • Foreign born: 5.1%; 12.5%
  • Persons below poverty: 12.1%; 13.3%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): 25.4%; 27.0%
  • Median home value: $145,200; $185,200

Quote du Jour

Buck Banks

A newspaper is of necessity something of a monopoly, and its first duty is to shun the temptations of monopoly. Its primary office is the gathering of news. At the peril of its soul it must see that the supply is not tainted. Neither in what it gives, nor in what it does not give,nor in the mode of presentation must the unclouded face of truth suffer wrong. Comment is free, but facts are sacred.

— C.P. Scott (1846-1932), British journalist, publisher and politician

Polk County Sheriff Releases More Evidence in Cheerleader Beating Case

Buck Banks

Sheriff Grady Judd’s motto must be “Don’t Save Anything for the Trial.” Yesterday, he released to the media the tape of the 911 call placed by Victoria Lindsay and her friend’s mother after Lindsay was beaten up by six girls who claim she posted insulting content about them on her MySpace page.

The girls had videotaped the beating, but the tape was confiscated by the sheriff’s department before they could post it. Now, however, it’s all over the Internet, courtesy of Sheriff Judd’s need for media attention. Nobody would have seen the tape until the trial if Sheriff Judd hadn’t needed it to fuel his lust for attention that was gladly satisfied by the likes of the Today Show and CNN, etc.

We’re curious, what do you think the high sheriff of Polk County will release next to keep the media spotlight focused on him? Leave a comment with your prediction.

Stephanopoulos Got Debate Question for Obama about 1970s Radical William Ayres from Sean Hannity

Jon Ponder

In the Democratic candidates’ debate last night, the “liberal media” teamed up with fake media when ABC News moderator George Stephanopoulos asked Barack Obama about Obama’s connection to the former 1960s radical, William Ayres. Here’s a sketch of the exchange between Stephanopoulos and Fox News’ Sean Hannity, on Hannity’s radio show on WABC:
When Hannity asked about the first question below about Ayers and whether George had plans to ask such a question, George replied, “Well, I’m taking notes now Sean.” It did actually sound like he was pausing to take notes.

George Stephanopoulos was just on the Sean Hannity Radio show getting all chummy with Hannity. George told Hannity that Hannity was “absolutely right” that Obama has tarnished his image as a uniter when he “pandered to the elite San Francisco crowd about the blue collar Pennsylvania workers” (summation of George’s comments, not an exact quote, but close).

Hannity asked George what kinds of questions they’ll be asking at the debate tomorrow and they discussed a few things. When Hannity asked about the first question below about Ayers and whether George had plans to ask such a question, George replied, “Well, I’m taking notes now Sean.” It did actually sound like he was pausing to take notes. And Hannity continued to feed him more:

1) Ask Obama about his relationship with Ayers and WeatherUnderground and Axelrod’s comments, “They’re friendly”

2) Ask Obama why he attended the Million Man March

Here’s the Q&A from the debate:

[…]