The recent events surrounding the Bill Sali for Congress Campaign dust up is interesting for me to observe. The argument seems to be that Wayne Hoffman, media leader for the campaign (and former print journalist) was too sensitive to negative articles and attitudes about his boss, the Congressional Campaign and to Wayne's own professional behavior.
Wayne's rebuttal seems to have left some burn scars in the hands of Canyon County news folks and others.
In fact, the burns seem to have run way-deep fairly quickly. VDid it seem to you that Vickie Hollbrook voiced her opinion admonishing her old employee about his apparent over-reaction?
Hmmm...interesting.
I've known Mr. Hoffman for many years - might have even been since the time he moved to ID from Arkansas, covering the then-Governor Clinton. He's always been a stand-up reporter. To my knowedge, he never mistreated any political people - always seemed to have balance as his main goal. I know, i was one of them.
For those reasons his former bosses (aka News Editors) all seemed to have given him glowing comments in the past. He moved up the ladder fairly quickly, for Idaho standards.
His switch over to the position of Press Secretary for US Congressman Bill Sali was not some type of nefarious thing. Look at Butch Otter's press staff - now and in the past. News people often move over to elected officials' offices.
It's just that Wayne Hoffman is today using the same news standards he used so well as a political reporter to hold the press accountable for its stories (and spin?).
And for this he gets attacked? What am I missing?
No, I think a slightly-dirty little secret might have slipped out.
Could it be that The Press Tribune's not an overall conservative paper, after all? Could it be that it's a paper that wants to be viewed more as a neo-conservative paper and Mr. Sali's oft-accepted politics of social conservativism seem to gum-up that desire?
Bill Sali's faith has always been a fishbone in the throat of some journalists, just like Helen Chenoweth's faith was. In her 6 years, she successfully wedded the neo-cons and the faith-based cons. Bill Sali is still courting both groups during his first 18 months in office and some people in Canyon County seem to almost hate it that he just might get an ongoing "aggrement of marriage" from both groups. it's like they are saying to each other: "My God, he's not going away...".
It might even be prodded on by some of the GOP businessmen in Canyon County who invest in the paper's advertising. Neo-cons who hold their noses when they vote for Sali...maybe even a few disgruntled GOP-ites whose recent Chairman lost his seat? Hmmm...
Not sure that this is the case, but I think I might have a couple ounces of truth in this pound of speculation. Wayne Hoffman seems to be just an appetizer to what they view as the on-coming Sali main dish.
Bill's probably thinking: bring it on, baby. My call is that he will solidify both halves of the conservative table, in time, and then ring the dinner bell. Wayne Hoffman will help make that happen.
Somebody's been invited to be the main dish, but I don't think it's The Sali Campaign.
Your thoughts?
Den
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