Steal the Vote 2004, part 10
Meanwhile in California, Republican candidates get free airtime. Democratic candidates, don’t:
Attempting to boost Republican Party prospects, the owner of a chain of Central Valley television and radio stations has donated $325,000 in air time for GOP candidates in many of the state’s hottest legislative elections.
The contribution by Harry J. Pappas comes in the final days of campaigning, and those involved in the campaigns could not recall another instance in which a California media mogul donated time on public airwaves for advertisements to benefit one party over another.
Critics say the contribution is a clear attempt to sway close elections, is likely to raise new questions of media bias, and violates federal law requiring broadcasting companies to provide equal time to political candidates.
“They’re the public’s airwaves,” said attorney Karen Getman, who represents the Assembly Democratic Caucus and formerly served as chairwoman of the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission. “You’re not free to give them to one side in a partisan debate.”
This is unbelievingly immoral and the shocking thing about it is that it’s being done so blatantly. It is quite literally the sort of media behaviour you see in Putin’s Russia. As we all know, the power of the media, especially radio and television to influence elections is enormous. If one side can get unlimited access to the media and the other side cannot, you cannot hold free elections!
If you are as disgusted as I am with this practise and live in the areas mentioned in the article, let them know:
- KMPH Fox 26 and KFRE 59, Fresno and Visalia
- KTNC in the Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto and San Jose areas
- KBFX Fox and KABZ, Bakersfield
- KAZA, Los Angeles
- KSWT, El Centro
- KMPH 107.5 FM in Fresno and Visalia
- KTRB 860 AM in the Stockton-Modesto areas