September 10, 2007 01:19 AM UTC

Journamilism 101: Dan Haley edition

• 20 Comments
• by: Steve Balboni

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Dan Haley really out did himself in today’s Denver Post. In a GOP Press Release column about Governor Ritter and labor unions Haley seems to have developed the vapors over, well, I’m not entirely sure what. Though it’s pretty clear who has Dan Haley’s ear.

As both Colorado Pols and David Sirota over at Square State have noticed in recent days, the local media seems to be trying to play some sort of silly “gotcha” game with the Governor and (gasp!) organized labor.

Haley’s piece begins dubiously,

Has Colorado’s pro-business governor suddenly gone soft?

Did you all hear that, Bill Ritter is now a “pro-business governor”. Quick, somebody wake up Andy McElhaney and tell him.

Bill Ritter is a moderate Democrat with a strong union background. He signed bills the entire session over objections by big business. He vetoed one piece of pro-union legislation (HB 1072) the entire session. That veto of course was explicitly based on the process by which it came about, not on the substance. Nevermind those facts and explicit statements from the Governor, Haley assures that this one act means exactly the opposite of what it clearly shows.

Besides this bizarre reading of the facts we have Haley’s insinuation that not carrying water for big business makes Bill Ritter “soft.” Sticking up for the little guy and looking out for working class American’s apparently makes a politician “soft.” That’s an interesting read Mr. Haley. Thanks for making it clear that not only have you have chosen sides on the matter (why else frame Ritter’s actions as “soft” if not to belittle them?) but you have chosen the side of big business.

The column rapidly spirals downward from there. Next we have this bit of hyperbole from Haley when describing what was at stake with the 1072 veto,

it very well could have saved his governorship.

Yep, that’s right. A governor who had been elected  4 moths earlier, in a landslide election, by a margin of 16% faced the end of his governorship just a month into his first legislative session. That’s absurd on it’s face and Haley should be ashamed for writing it. Of course that narrative does fit in neatly with the gloom and doom predictions the state GOP and business leaders made when 1072 landed on the Governor’s desk. Sort of makes you wonder who Haley’s been consulting with before he writes his weekly column, no?

Haley continues to try and frame Ritter’s discussions with labor as something surreptitious, framing the conversation with phrases like “And during these sleepy summer months while lawmakers were away…” and “rumors began to surface.” My favorite though is the breathlessness with which he delivers this sentence, “Documents released last week detailed his administration’s quiet cooperation with two big unions…” Of course there’s nothing unusual about a governor discussing proposed legislation with any interest group. In fact, that’s exactly what they spend the months between sessions doing. No one has shied away from acknowledging that meetings are taking place or what the substance of these meetings has been. Yet to read Haley you would think he had uncovered some nefarious plot at the highest reaches of Colorado government. Instead, what he’s uncovered is, apparently, Dick Wadhams cell phone number.

It would be laughable if Haley were not editor of the Denver Post editorial page. Isn’t this supposed to be the “liberal” editorial page in town? Hey Gov, with friends like these who needs Vincent Carroll, right?

The kicker in all of this is when Dan Haley, intrepid reporter, lets us in on the big secret he (and only he) knows.

Here’s the thing to know about Ritter. In 2005, when no one – and I mean no one, except maybe his wife, Jeanne – was giving the longshot candidate a chance, Ritter, a lifelong union man, went about quietly courting Big Labor.

Owww. The Stupid. It Burns.

First of all, in 2005 many people believed in Bill Ritter. Was he the runaway front runner? Certainly not. Then again he was not just so no-name politician with no experience and no support. He had been a highly successful DA for over a decade. Key elements of his campaign staff were already in place. Trust me Dan, Bill Ritter had support that extended far beyond his wife. That’s a trivial matter though compared to the real accusation Haley has leveled.

The fact that Bill Ritter, a Democratic candidate for Governor, was meeting with organized labor is not the big scoop you are trying to portray it as Dan. Let me ask you this, at that same time were Bob Beauprez and Marc Holtzman meeting with the state chamber of commerce and other business interests? Of course they were. That is, of course, exactly what candidates do. They meet with interests groups who are natural allies. Quietly courting? As though Bill Ritter and Mitch Ackerman were having clandestine meetings in downtown parking garages. Please Dan, these are Democrats – not GOP Senators. What did Dan expect from a Democratic candidate for Governor?

Haley continues,

Even though any proposed collective bargaining would impact only government employees, there are worries it could be just the beginning of unions gaining a stronger foothold in Colorado.

There are worries? Who might be having these worries? How about some names Dan? Who is filling your head with these tragic tales of the Great Union Conquest? I’m sure it’s not these guys. Nah, couldn’t be.

With the Democratic National Convention coming to Denver next year, those worries might be well-placed.

Pssst. Dan. Your slip is starting to show.

“One year and counting until the greatest sideshow in Colorado political history,” said Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams. “I can’t wait for the liberals to come to town.”

“Right now, it’s euphoria, it’s excitement and it will be exciting, but I think it’s a political mistake,”

Striking similiarity there between what the editor of the Denver Post’s editorial page thinks and what the Chair of the Colorado GOP thinks. I’m sure that’s just a coincidence, great minds thinking alike and all.

What is so infuriating about this atrocious column form Haley is that he frames the entire piece around GOP talking points and language. There is very little to the union stories that the state GOP has been desperately trying to fluff up all summer. Yet we see a prominent local journalist not only bite on the silly story line but swallow the entire hook, line and sinker. Well done Dan. Dick Wadhams, Andy McElhaney and John Andrews salute you.

Haley’s entire column is nothing more than GOP spin, innuendo and allegations. The people of Colorado turn to the Denver Post and other media outlets for news and analysis; not for lazy slip-shod reporting disguised as analysis.