The Attorney General debate between Democrat Kathleen Falk and Republican JB Van Hollen is reviewed by Dee Hall of the traditional Main Stream Media and Sean Hackbarth a Wisconsin blogger. The comparison is fairly interesting.
(MSM) Van Hollen, Falk trade charges vs. (Blogger) Falk-Van Hollen Debate.
MSM: Van Hollen, 40, appeared relaxed and genial.
Blogger: worked the room greeting people and shaking hands.
MSM: Falk, 55 … appeared tense and was often on the offensive.
Blogger: arrived and proceeded promptly to the debate stage to receive instructions on the debate format. In the debate Falk was the one more on the defensive.
MSM: Falk charged Wednesday that her opponent, Republican J.B. Van Hollen, would not stand up to the Bush administration and big business in support of Wisconsin's environmental and consumer laws.
Blogger: A few times she pointed out WMC, the business trade group, was spending $2 million on ads against her.
MSM: Van Hollen said Falk, a Democrat, would "turn a blind eye" to illegal immigration and would file "nuisance" lawsuits against law-abiding companies.
Blogger: Van Hollen said Dane County under Falk’s charge “turns a blind eye” on illegal immigration.
MSM: Van Hollen repeatedly mentioned Falk's lack of experience in criminal law enforcement.
Blogger: pointed out Falk’s lack of experience in prosecuting criminals.
MSM: Falk painted Van Hollen as a right-wing extremist.
Blogger: …
OK, so Sean fails to report the right-wing extremist charges, but he does report how both candidates respond to the job specific issues of street gangs, methamphetamine and an inefficient State Crime Lab. Interested voters wanting to know candidate positions on these serious problems won’t find them in the newspaper.
What is clear is that the business community really don’t want Kathleen Falk in office because she has a track record in this state, and it has never been about public safety or jobs.
