Media Manipulation
Under the right set of circumstances, I don’t mind being manipulated. It usually involves two Brazilian strippers, good scotch whiskey and a box of cigars and chocolate. However, since none of those things have shown up on my door step lately, I really wish some people in this town would politely tone things down and just quietly go turn out the vote.
In case you’re wondering, I’m referring to efforts by Council Democrats to go after Carl Brizzi a few days before the election in the race for County Prosecutor. Council Democrats have been fuming about Brizzi since this summer’s hearings on jail overcrowding.
Earlier this week, the Democrats instructed Council Attorney Aaron Haith to investigate whether Brizzi misled the council during hearings on jail overcrowding. I would take the “investigation” more seriously if the Democrats hadn’t been sitting on this information for months. I reached that conclusion based on several factors.
First, the information used has been sitting around for months. Second, it showed up a partisan, although well done, Democratic blog just a few days before Election Day. Third, no one else in the media would pick up the story, which is ironic seeing how I did and I am the partisans’ least favorite media outlet. Fourth, Council President Monroe Gray has an axe to grind with Brizzi over the jail overcrowding hearings and the fact Brizzi is investigating 300 East, a bar that Gray has a financial interest in via his wife. Fifth, the Democratic chairman of the public safety committee has a relative who is a key staffer on the Melina Kennedy campaign. Need I say more?
So with all that said, Brizzi is scheduled to be a guest on the show from 7:30 – 8:00 a.m. And my sources tell me the Democrats are planning to fill the phone lines, ask Brizzi if he lied to the Council about jail overcrowding, have him say no and then cut a 30-second commercial and play it over the weekend. They’re welcome to do it, on someone else’s airwaves. Remember, I don’t mind being manipulated, but since there are no Brazilian strippers with cigar, alcohol and chocolate showing up anytime soon, pardon me if I don’t play that game this morning. Bring me strippers and I might change my mind.
