Sat
Apr 7 2012
12:01 pm
Haslam wants media to not report on state government
By: R. Neal

According to this AP article appearing in newspapers across the state today, Gov. Haslam is not happy with all the media attention on what he calls "crazy" legislation, and wishes they would focus on more important and positive things such as education reform.

If he thinks the legislation is "crazy" why does he keep signing it? He can veto it and make them get on board the crazy train twice. And it would send them a message. As it is, he only encourages them to continue embarrassing our state.

The media is just doing its job, part of which is reporting on state government. If the governor doesn't like the coverage, he should be a leader and encourage better legislation.

In fact, he should probably be happy that his education "reforms," which are actually the first step in dismantling public education, aren't getting more press. People might wise up. Instead, the media is helping Haslam advance his radical GOP agenda by distracting the public from the more serious damage being done.

Fact check: "We're redefining accountability, and you'd be hard-pressed to find 100 lines of print in any paper of the state," Haslam said. "Now, today in the Legislature there's a conversation about saggy pants and what they should do there." Seriously? In just the last month the KNS alone had approx. 15 articles about teacher evaluations, and only five about "saggy pants."

A google search for articles about Tennessee teacher evaluations yields hundreds of articles across the state and nationally (including the NYT). Not all of them are supportive, so maybe that's his real problem.

Topics:
Rachel's picture

"Crazy" is right.

Submitted by Rachel on Sat, 2012/04/07 - 2:30pm.

"Crazy" is right. Unfortunately he's fussing at the wrong folks.

If he wants the "crazy" things to go unreported, he should urge his Republican colleagues in the legislature to stop doing them.

fischbobber's picture

I Tried

Submitted by fischbobber on Sat, 2012/04/07 - 11:09pm.

To tell you about this guy before he was elected. Being a part of the "popular crowd" doesn't make one competent.

Pam Strickland's picture

Agreed, Rachel.

Submitted by Pam Strickland on Sat, 2012/04/07 - 5:18pm.

Agreed, Rachel.

Mark Harmon's picture

Footnote

Submitted by Mark Harmon on Sat, 2012/04/07 - 7:38pm.

I was interviewed by this AP reporter for this story. He didn't use any quotes, but largely they replicate what others have said on this thread. If you don't want crazy reported, condemn the crazy going on from our legislators. Blaming the messenger is cliche and unwarranted in this case.

Mike Cohen's picture

Crazy

Submitted by Mike Cohen on Sat, 2012/04/07 - 7:36pm.

I think you are making his point. Whether you are for or against items like education reform, he is suggesting it doesn't get enough media attention compared to, say, the bill to ban sagging pants.

SnM's picture

From R. Neal above:

Submitted by SnM on Sat, 2012/04/07 - 7:49pm.

"Fact check: "We're redefining accountability, and you'd be hard-pressed to find 100 lines of print in any paper of the state," Haslam said. "Now, today in the Legislature there's a conversation about saggy pants and what they should do there." Seriously? In just the last month the KNS alone had approx. 15 articles about teacher evaluations, and only five about "saggy pants."

A google search for articles about Tennessee teacher evaluations yields hundreds of articles across the state and nationally (including the NYT). Not all of them are supportive, so maybe that's his real problem."

If you're really going to make an effort to defend Haslam's attempt to promote his abysmal legislative record by shifting responsibility for Tennessee Republican insanity to those exposing it, you're going to need a bigger spinning wheel.

And you need to scurry faster in that wheel.

Rachel's picture

Oh, come on, Mike. Perhaps

Submitted by Rachel on Sat, 2012/04/07 - 7:56pm.

Oh, come on, Mike.

Perhaps the media (and the public) enjoy the "crazy" a bit too much. But there would be nothing to be reported if the "crazy" (as Haslam admits it is) didn't happen in the first place.

The thing that got me most in that story is that Haslam was given a chance to fuss at the legislature and he passed. I'd say "come on" to him too if he were here.

Mike Cohen's picture

Lxgr

Submitted by Mike Cohen on Sat, 2012/04/07 - 8:14pm.

Rachel....I get your point. I'm just not sure attacking the legislature helps him in any way. And it has never been Haslam's style.

Rachel's picture

I agree; it's not his

Submitted by Rachel on Sat, 2012/04/07 - 8:45pm.

I agree; it's not his style.

But I'm not sure attacking the media helps him either, especially about stuff that most folks know is a product of the legislature.

cafkia's picture

Unfortunately both Haslam and

Submitted by cafkia on Sun, 2012/04/08 - 12:06pm.

Unfortunately both Haslam and Obama seem to have the same style, that being, appease the uneducated morons counting on them to eventually recognize the obvious and, ignore the thinking, rational element because surely they will understand the need to appease the morons.

I hate that style.

rikki's picture

It's not like the "crazy"

Submitted by rikki on Sun, 2012/04/08 - 9:58am.

It's not like the "crazy" legislation is independent from the "serious" legislation. The same people are debating and voting on all of it, and their enthusiasm for stupid, discriminatory and uninformed bills speaks volumes about the quality of any laws coming out of this assembly. The seriousness of a bill's subject does not mean that those voting on it will magically become competent.

gonzone's picture

Standard operating procedure.

Submitted by gonzone on Sun, 2012/04/08 - 2:23pm.

Standard operating procedure. Blame the media for your party's insane ravings.

vernon's picture

I must say I ve been

Submitted by vernon on Mon, 2012/04/09 - 11:33pm.

I must say I ve been embarrassed by some of Niceley's stuff this year, His ridiculous battle with TWRA, promoting gill netting in our lakes and rivers and trying to establish deer-farming.The sad but honest truth i supported that guy,never again.

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