Chris Rochester: Kind relies on PACs, Kapanke on individuals; La Crosse Tribune

11.25.2009

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind’s 3rd Congressional District was removed recently from the Congressional Quarterly’s list of “safe” Democrat-held districts. Also, the national GOP has identified Dan Kapanke as “on the radar,” a status given only to candidates with a serious shot at winning. Kapanke also surprised his own party with his stunning fundraising success.

But none of these stories got coverage in the Tribune.

In an Oct. 28 news story on a Barbara Lawton speech in La Crosse, the writer hits readers with a left hook, suddenly quoting a past candidate for state Senate accusing Kapanke of using money from “special interest” donors. Kapanke played the bad guy for the rest of the story.

That past candidate, Tara Johnson, collected plenty of money herself from big-money conduits. In fact, according to Johnson’s January 2009 report, filed with the Government Accountability Board, half of her donors gave more than $100, with lawyers and chiropractors giving more than $61,000. More than 200 doctors, lawyers and chiropractors gave to Johnson’s campaign, with 78 percent of those lawyers living outside the district.

Could these coordinated contributions be random? Most likely not, but you’re not likely to read an expose in this newspaper.

In the most recent reporting period, Kind only managed to collect $38,000 from individuals, relying instead on money from political action groups. All of Kapanke’s $111,000 haul was from 369 ordinary people.

Most at the Tribune are first-rate journalists and editors, which is why Kapanke earned their endorsement in his prior campaigns. Hopefully, when the race really heats up, we’ll see a more balanced picture of both sides.

Article Link: http://www.lacrossetribune.com/news/opinion/article_d079b6b0-d9bc-11de-bb02-001cc4c03286.html.