Daily News gives non-"endorsement" to Don Young

[Blue_In_AK]

The Daily News wimped out and didn't endorse Diane, but they didn't exactly endorse Don Young either...

http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/8379342p-8274635c.html

Young's 18th

Let's hope he learns to do better

It's likely that Alaska's lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Don Young, will win re-election this week, returning to Congress for his 18th term.

His Democratic challenger, Diane Benson, is short of public office experience, short of strong issues other than the war in Iraq and veterans' health care, and even further short of campaign money to defeat the entrenched incumbent who has $2 million in his campaign bank account.

<snip>

But all that power can turn even a former Yukon riverboat captain into an admiral among the multimillion-dollar circle of corporate contributors looking to curry favor with Congress. Rep. Young knows how to raise some of the biggest dollars in Washington, D.C. And what he doesn't need for his own, lopsided re-election campaign wins, Rep. Young shares with his friends. He does so out of loyalty, his campaign office says. He donated $12,500 from his political action committee to Republican Reps. Tom DeLay of Texas, "Duke" Cunningham of California and Bob Ney of Ohio. All were under investigation this past term when Rep. Young gave them money; all later resigned under pressure or indictment or conviction.

And just where does Rep. Young get most of his campaign and political action committee money? From out of state. Nothing illegal about it, and certainly Alaska could benefit from a high-profile elected official popular with Outside decision makers. But it seems that much of Rep. Young's Outside contributions come from recipients of his congressional favor. For example, if you sort his political contributors by ZIP code, you will learn that Pine Bluff, Ark., holds the top two spots nationwide for big-money donations to Rep. Young. Arkansas residents donated $162,000 this election cycle to Rep. Young's campaign fund and political action committee. And, surprise, Arkansas received more than $100 million in federal highway aid -- "earmarks" is the word of the day -- in the appropriations bill crafted by House Transportation Committee Chair Rep. Young.

<snip>

But maybe in his next two years, Rep. Young could make a name for himself for ethics and statesmanship, instead of fundraising and handing out gifts from the federal budget. Fat chance, Daily News.

BOTTOM LINE: Rep. Young, there is room for improvement.

*****

I suppose it's the best we could have hoped for, but I was hoping for a stronger endorsement for Diane after all the negative editorials. The editors seem to have Stockholm Syndrome on this one.


On the bright side, both the Daily News and the Voice of the Times strongly endorse Tony Knowles.

[Ken Burch]

1. I wonder why they caved?

They've been bashing Pork Boy all week. What are they scared of?

[Blue_In_AK]

2. I'm not sure...

He must have threatened them with something. I was really hoping they would endorse Diane. I'm not sure this is really any kind of "ringing" endorsement for Don, but....

You did see though that we're getting Diane on the 6:00 news tomorrow night, so that will be good. It's excellent exposure the night before the election.

[Ken Burch]

3. yeah, on balance it's breaking our way...

If only we can get Brylcreem Boy to finally come through with a public endorsement.

[Blue_In_AK]

4. I had a call from someone at Tony's campaign

and I told him I'd vote for Tony if he'd vote for Diane. (I was going to anyway - I just wanted to hear what he'd have to say.) He assured me that he personally was going to and had dropped money by her campaign, etc. etc. I'm afraid Tony isn't going to say anything because he's just too darned "establishment" and doesn't want to rock the boat. It's a shame.

[snowbear]

5. Tony has given Diane Benson PLENTY of support !!!!!

I have two family members who work for the Knowles campaign and I cannot believe what I'm reading here!

Tony Knowles has indeed supported the Benson campaign financially as well as on the trail.

Ask yourself this:

Who does Andrew "I'm playing an Independent for this race" Halcro want to win the U.S. Congressional seat???????

He wants the dirtball slug that's in there now!!!

Also ------ E-mail Andrew and ask him which party he will represent when he makes his next run?

If you guessed Democratic, you would be WRONG.

If you guessed Independent, you would be DEAD WRONG.

I cannot believe how gullible some Alaskan voters are.. GRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

[Blue_In_AK]

6. I just wish he had been a little more visible about it, Larissa...

...but don't worry, we voted for Tony, and I'm sure Ken did, too.

[Ken Burch]

7. I did

nt.