Alabama Potpourri

So, I enjoy listening to this supreme right wing talk station run out of Birmingham (and by supreme, I mean I give this station credit for defeating the governor's tax plan last fall, just by repeating over and over, taxes are unpatriotic). Well if there is one thing supreme right wing Alabamans love it is NASCAR. And if there is one thing they hate it is, naturally, anyone questioning the supreme authority of President Bush.

Loved this on the Matt Murphy show today.

Matt Murphy took a break from bashing John Kerry to discuss the unthinkable. Dale Earnhardt Jr., wearer of the 3 and the 8, was seen this weekend, going into the movie theater to watch... Fahrenheit 9/11. And he'd dragged his whole crew, too. Could it be that Earnhardt was secretly a "commie pinko liberal tree-hugger"??

Benevolently, Murphy was ready to give Earnhardt the benefit of the doubt. "Perhaps he was just going to get ammunition to attack the enemy," he said.

But then the triumphant, "Personally," Murphy said, "I have always been a supporter of Jeff Gordon."

politics

The Alabama primary was yesterday. Big News: George Bush and John Kerry win primaries! What, like you're surprised Alabama is a little behind the rest of the country?


Also up for election were state supreme court slots, state representatives, school board members, treasurers and...! constables. Don't ask me what constables do or why they are elected. I hope for their sakes they get to wear tall black hats.


I changed my mind a few times about whether I was going to vote (and which party's primary to vote in to do the most good). Some reporters do not vote. According to J.A., investigative reporter at the newspaper, voting would spoil his objectivity. I don't know whether he means his personal objectivity or his perceived objectivity by the readers, or both. He tried to talk me out of voting but could not. This is the way I feel about it: reporters are people and have opinions. Often, reporters have more informed opinions about public policy and politics than the general public simply because they are forced to do more research and are constantly in an environment that examines our institutions and leaders. Cutting off those votes is cutting off educated votes. Not saying that I was particularly well informed more than anyone else - I don't even know what a constable does after all - but as a general rule.


Whether or not I vote, I am still going to have those opinions. So does J.A., though he may try to suppress them.


Are newspapers/news outlets biased just because reporters have opinions? Maybe. But that is going to happen whether reporters vote or not. I do not believe that there is such a thing as objectivity if your definition of objectivity is "treats every political party the same" or "10 pro-war pictures and 10 anti-war pictures." I do believe there is such a thing as fair subjectivity. And that is a subjectivity that tries to represent the truth. Truth, of course, is the monster of subjectivity, so it's not easy.


I do think it would not be in a reporter's best interest to broadcast their votes.


For all of you (three) readers, how do you feel? Should a reporter vote in an election? yes or no. Post your response.


some questions to ponder:

-What if you're covering the candidates you are voting for? (for example, you are the city reporter and it is a mayoral election).


-What if one of the candidates is against a free press or other civil liberties?


-Should a reporter be a reporter first, or a citizen first?