[LPmeck] Thomas Hill in 8Th District Coverage

[Christopher Cole]

Greetings, all,
I listened to the coverage on two local radio stations of the  
Republican runoff in the 8th Congressional District.

On WFAE, our local NPR affiliate, the reporter remarked that the race  
MIGHT get a third-party [sic] candidate, if Wendell Fant follows  
through with his plans to run as an independent (he has already  
successfully completed his petitioning). I emailed them to correct  
them, pointing out that the race CURRENTLY has a third-party  
candidate, Libertarian Thomas Hill, such that the entry of Fant would  
turn it into a four-way race. Here is their reply:

Chris - you're correct. We made a correction this morning. Thanks for
keeping us honest.

Greg Collard
News Director

On WBT, the reporter merely mentioned that Harold Johnson, winner of  
the runoff, would face Democrat Larry Kissell in the fall. I emailed  
them to correct their report, in that Johnson will face Kissell and  
Libertarian Thomas Hill in the fall.

I received two responses from them. The first read:

Thank you for your e-mail.
I don't believe there was a factual error in the story.
We simply pointed out that the controversy over health care could
attract another candidate.
Then we said that Johnson is projected to run well against Kissell.
As we approach November, I'm sure we'll have all the candidates on the
air.
Mark Garrison
WBT News

However, the second read:

Thanks again, Chris!
We're trying to move out of that mindset that Libertarians usually don't
factor into the outcome and thus don't deserve a mention. It's a faulty
way of thinking and you are correct to call us on the error.
Jim

I don't know the particular status of either one, so I can't say when  
someone up the hierarchy stepped in. However, at least they took the  
time to reply.

On another front, Jim Morrill DID include a mention of Thomas in his  
runoff coverage in the Charlotte Observer. On the other hand, Rob  
Christensen did NOT mention Mike Beitler in his article on the  
Democratic US Senate runoff.

-- 
Chris Cole
Huntersville, NC

"Those who pretend they want to preserve freedom, while they are eager to fix
prices, wage rates, and interest rates at a level different from that of the
market, delude themselves. There is no other alternative to  
totalitarian slavery
than liberty. There is no other planning for freedom and general  
welfare than to
let the market system work. There is no other means to attain full employment,
rising real wage rates, and a high standard of living for the common man than
private initiative and free enterprise."
-Ludwig von Mises
Founder, Austrian School of Economics
March 30, 1945