9News uncritically allowed Wadhams to characterize Democratic candidates as “really left-wing” without a Democratic response

Written by Media Matters Staff

Published

In an online article about the possibility that U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) might again seek the Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Adam Schrager of KUSA 9News uncritically reported state Republican Party chairman Dick Wadhams' contention that Democratic candidates for the 2008 election “represent a really left-wing viewpoint.” The article included no Democratic response, either to Wadhams' assertion or to the possibility of Kerry's candidacy.

In an April 15 article for KUSA 9News' website about the possibility that Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) might consider another presidential run, political reporter Adam Schrager uncritically repeated Colorado Republican Party chairman Dick Wadhams' comment that Kerry -- like several of the announced 2008 Democratic candidates -- “represent[s] a really left-wing viewpoint of the Democratic Party.” In addition to uncritically quoting Wadhams' characterization of the Democratic candidates, Schrager included no Democratic response to that assertion or to the prospect that Kerry might once again seek the Democratic nomination for president.

Schrager reported that “Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) reopened the door to a possible 2008 presidential campaign during a book signing in Denver and then again, in an interview with 9NEWS." After quoting Kerry as saying, “I've said very clearly I don't consider myself out of it forever,” Schrager reported, “Colorado's leading Republican chuckled at the news Kerry may embark on another presidential run and insisted, just like in 2004, he would not win Colorado”:

“I would welcome John Kerry to the presidential race,” said Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams. “He would fit right in with the current crop of candidates on the other side. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, John Kerry, they all represent a really left-wing viewpoint of the Democratic Party.”

Wadhams' remarks about the Democratic Party, unbalanced by any commentary from Colorado Democratic figures such as Democratic Party chair Pat Waak, continued a pattern of Colorado media uncritically reporting Wadhams' attacks on and partisan characterizations of Democrats, as Colorado Media Matters has noted.

From Schrager's article “Kerry reopens door to possible presidential run,” published April 15 on the 9News.com website:

DENVER -- Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) reopened the door to a possible 2008 presidential campaign during a book signing in Denver and then again, in an interview with 9NEWS.

The 2004 Democratic nominee told a crowd of more than 250 at the Tattered Cover bookstore in lower downtown Denver that he had no desire to endorse any candidate for the office right now, choosing to wait to see how they addressed the issue of global warming.

Kerry and his wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, are finishing up a nationwide tour to promote their book, “This Moment on Earth,” which highlights successful efforts at the local level to better the environment.

Afterwards, while answering a question from a viewer on the program YOUR SHOW about why he chose not to run, Kerry said he had decided it wasn't the right time.

“Could that change?” Kerry said. “It might. It may change over years. It may change over months. I can't tell you, but I've said very clearly I don't consider myself out of it forever.”

Colorado's leading Republican chuckled at the news Kerry may embark on another presidential run and insisted, just like in 2004, he would not win Colorado.

“I would welcome John Kerry to the presidential race,” said Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dick Wadhams. “He would fit right in with the current crop of candidates on the other side. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, John Kerry, they all represent a really left-wing viewpoint of the Democratic Party.”

When asked whether he expected that decision to change in time for the 2008 race, Kerry said, “If suddenly the field changed or the dynamics of the nation shifted, who knows? You might look at it differently, but I don't see that. I don't foresee that. That's not where I am today and that's not what I'm doing.”