Story Created:
Sep 24, 2008 at 2:44 PM EST
Story Updated:
Sep 24, 2008 at 2:44 PM EST
FRENCH LICK, Ind. (AP) — The media play an important, public role in the political process, the state's three gubernatorial candidates told a group of newspaper editors on Wednesday.
But while Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels and Democrat Jill Long Thompson told the fall meeting of the Indiana Associated Press Managing Editors that they don't always like the coverage they get, Libertarian Andrew Horning took the media to task for largely ignoring alternative party candidates like himself.
Although he has run for governor as a Libertarian before, Horning suggested that the media figures he will only get 2 percent of the vote "so let's throw him off the side."
He even quipped that it would fine if they called him "poopy head" if it got him more press.
"I have to tell you this is what I have been fighting," said Horning, a medical consultant from Freedom, about 90 miles southwest of Indianapolis. "What I have seen out of the media is you're entrenching the powers that be."
He also said that government has intruded into too many aspects of American society, and, "If you don't think it's not going to hit you (media) like a ton of bricks, you are sadly mistaken."
Although all three candidates talked about other issues during separate appearances before about 50 members of the Indiana APME, each spoke about issues related to the press.
Long Thompson noted that parts of the media industry are struggling financially and laying off staff amid a faltering economy.
Even so, she said local newspapers in particular are a needed tool of information for the public.
"If you only read USA Today or you only watch CNN you're only going to get the national or international perspective," she said. "If you have local newspapers you get the coverage of the impact on the local community, which may be very different than what the national reporters are talking about."
But, she said, "I don't always like what you write."
Daniels said he did not have any complaints about the press coverage he has received, saying, "You have a job to do and it is not to help us in any way. You represent the public."
But then he said there were "many, many, many times" that he has found coverage to be inaccurate or unfair.
He said most of that was innocent, and only once in a while does he find something that is so factually wrong that he draws attention to it.
"I just had thick skin when I got here, so I've calloused up," he said.
Daniels said he has tried to make government more transparent. He said his administration posts contracts on the Internet in real time, but said the state might be able to improve by making more information easily accessible. He also said his campaign posts political contributions regularly on his Web site, while most candidates wait until official reporting deadlines to do so.
Long Thompson said she, too, favored more transparency in state government, but she provided few details.
Steve Key, a lobbyist with the Hoosier State Press Association, asked Daniels and Long Thompson if they would favor allowing judges to assess civil fines against public officials who knowingly violate the state's open records and open door laws.
"Yeah, possibly," Daniels said without elaborating.
Long Thompson said she would be inclined to support civil penalties, but she would have to study the issue more.
Currently, those alleging violations must first seek a nonbinding opinion from the state's public access counselor. They can then file lawsuits over their complaints, and judges can order that records be made public or that open meeting violations be stopped.
If those filing the complaints win their case, judges can order the public official or body who violated the law to pay the plaintiff's legal fees. But they cannot penalize the bad actors with civil or criminal penalties, authority Key's group will pursue in the next legislative session.
