No one can be politically active without being aware of the term media whore. More important, one cannot be politically astute without understanding why media whores are so deserving of their handle.
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During my five previous campaigns for public office, I was little more than a pawn in a media cat and mouse game. Not a spineless liberal, I returned fire, documenting media corruption and making it a campaign issue. I use my campaigns in part to educate the public about media corruption.
On this page, I note that the media have made the WASL a perennial Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) campaign theme since 2000. I also noted that the media always focus on the incumbent and one or two corrupt (and generally anti-WASL) challengers, generally ignoring the other candidates.
During previous campaigns, the media actually lied, claiming there were X number of candidates when there were actually more. This blatant lie of omission is particularly popular during this campaign.
Another thing of interest is the explosion in political blogs. When I first became politically active, I promoted myself as Washington State’s #1 education activist. As arrogant as it sounds, it was the simple truth. Who else can you name who has been consistently fighting for the kids and even has a respectable website?
Apparently, the Seattle Mafia eventually decided it was time to fill the void. Where I was once nearly alone, there are now more blogs and political websites than I can count. Not surprisingly, they get more publicity in local media than my political websites. And they all work together in disinforming voters during election campaigns.
But I have two things virtually none of the competition has. The first is my track record. I’ll let you figure out what the other one is by yourself. It should become more obvious as time goes by.
The Randy Dorn Trio
I don’t have the time or energy to analyze all the media lies associated with the 2008 SPI campaign. But, to put it in perspective, let me begin by focusing on the announcement of a fifth candidate who was portrayed as the third candidate.
All media whores who pretend to be political experts should be aware of the existence of an agency called the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). The PDC’s website has a page that allows you to view candidates’ reports. It’s one way to find out who’s running for office and when they filed.
It isn’t perfect; it uses Microsoft technology. In fact, I suspect a little conspirary here, but that’s another story. The fact is, it’s relatively simple to retrieve information. Just type in something for “Election Year” (like 2008) and “Office Sought” (e.g. Superintendent of Public Instruction).
To make it even simpler, I downloaded the information for the two missing candidates, David Blomstrom and Donald Hansler. Note that my papers were filed on Dec. 3, 2007, while Hansler filed an amended C1 form on Feb. 22, 2008.
So, by New Years, there were four candidates—the incumbent (Terry Bergeson), me (David Blomstrom), Donald Hansler and a jackass named Richard Semler.
On May 1, 2008, The Olympian announced a fifth candidate, Randy Dorn. The author, Brad Shannon, also mentioned my name...
• Ex-Rep. Dorn joins race for top school job (Brad Shannon, The Olympian, May 1)
But several articles and blog entires over the next few days suggested—or flat out stated—that there were but three candidates. Perhaps the leading offender was Joe Turner, a media whore who apparently functions as both a reporter and a blogger with TheNewsTribune.com...
• Randy Dorn expected to announce for state schools chief (Joe Turner in Political Buzz, a blog associated with TheNewsTribune.com, April 29)
• Dorn finally makes it official: He’s off and running for state schools chief; he’d take a pay cut by winning (Joe Turner, Political Buzz, May 1)
Turner writes, “Dorn becomes the third candidate to enter the race.” That’s a lie.
• Third candidate seeks state schools superintendent job (Joe Turner, TheNewsTribune.com, May 3)
Below are some more examples of media whores collaborating in a lie of omission.
• Another candidate for SPI (David Postman, Postman on Politics [a blog associated with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer], May 1)
• Capitol Update (University of Washington, May 2)
“He [Dorn] joins Richland superintendent Rich Semler (who was recently endorsed by the Washington Education Association) as the two chief challengers to incumbent Terry Bergeson who is seeking her fourth term this fall.”
• 3 candidates for state school superintendent job (The Columbian, May 2)
“Terry Bergeson has a second challenger [Randy Dorn] for the job of Washington state school superintendent.”
• Northwest news briefs (WenatcheeWorld.com, May 2)
“Three candidates to run for top schools post”
• 3 candidates for state school superintendent job (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 2)
Blog Games
That’s about all the time I have for now. As time allows, I hope to write a little about the games that are being played by an army of blogmasters. For now, here’ a hint: Third Candidate, Fourth Blog. (See the comments at the bottom of the page.)
E pluribus unum,
David Blomstrom—May 15, 2008
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indicating you agree with my definition. Doing so will help publicize the fact
that there IS a Seattle Mafia. If you’re working for the Seattle Mafia and
want to click the thumbs down icon 
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that’s fine, too. Either way, you’re helping my campaign. :) 
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