Star Trib, I'm Disappointed!
As many know, I worked for the Star Trib as a "carrier" (read, paper delivery girl) on weekends this summer. What made me happiest about this was to be able to say that the paper I worked for was a liberally-slanted one, as opposed to the Pioneer Press, which I've never read, but is considered to be a newspaper aimed at conservatives. Lately, however, I've been noticing something... less than "liberal" about the good old Trib. First, a couple weeks ago, an article ran about how similar Democratic candidate for Senate Al Franken is to a fictional character. What fictional character, you ask?
THE JOKER. Apparently, because both Al Franken and the Joker had a previous job persona- Al Franken was on SNL, and the Joker... did something I don't remember, because I've seen the film only once- they are incredibly similar. The columnist even hinted that s/he thought that it was possible that the Joker's characterization was BASED on Al Franken. Then, the columnist put down a list of quotes, and the reader was to identify whether they were from the Joker or Franken, because as the Joker used sarcasm, he is thus a virtual twin personality to Franken's SNL persona. As if this wasn't bad enough, the quotes were ridiculously obvious, as some of the Joker's quotes were about murder and crime- which we all know Franken discusses ALL THE TIME, hahaha... >:(
I found that article, if it can even be called that, to be obnoxious, but forgivable. Then, today, the Trib's Variety section ran an article about young Republicans, and how they justify their support for McCain, a man who is older than them (so is Barack Obama, so I don't see what their issue with that would be) and a man who *gasp* doesn't use the internet or listen to the same music! Of course, the young Republicans they interviewed said that these things didn't matter to them (duh) and that they told their friends that other issues mattered more to them in choosing a candidate than the candidate's taste in music and internet usage.
Does the Star Tribune REALLY think that this is why the majority of young people prefer Barack Obama over McCain? Is this the reason the Star Trib sees for the majority of young people identifying themselves as democrats? Oh, no. As Cody Holliday, a Republican from Bethel College said in his interview with the Star Trib, "I didn't become a Republican because, you know, I liked an elephant better than a donkey." THAT'S why young people are Democrats! We like the donkeys better!!! But these young Republicans are so much smarter, they choose their candidates for other reasons than music, internet usage, and animal preference. No, these far superior young Republicans base their decisions upon issues such as "economy, gas prices, climate change," said Andrew Foxwell in the article. Democrats? Music and internet usage. Yep.
I'm not trying to be mean to young Republicans (namely Kelsey <3), and I don't believe for one minute that Republicans truly think that these are reasons why young Democrats support Barack Obama. My point is simply that the Star Trib has been disappointing me lately, and I would much appreciate it if the columnists would step it up and resume being the liberal newspaper I know and love.
THE JOKER. Apparently, because both Al Franken and the Joker had a previous job persona- Al Franken was on SNL, and the Joker... did something I don't remember, because I've seen the film only once- they are incredibly similar. The columnist even hinted that s/he thought that it was possible that the Joker's characterization was BASED on Al Franken. Then, the columnist put down a list of quotes, and the reader was to identify whether they were from the Joker or Franken, because as the Joker used sarcasm, he is thus a virtual twin personality to Franken's SNL persona. As if this wasn't bad enough, the quotes were ridiculously obvious, as some of the Joker's quotes were about murder and crime- which we all know Franken discusses ALL THE TIME, hahaha... >:(
I found that article, if it can even be called that, to be obnoxious, but forgivable. Then, today, the Trib's Variety section ran an article about young Republicans, and how they justify their support for McCain, a man who is older than them (so is Barack Obama, so I don't see what their issue with that would be) and a man who *gasp* doesn't use the internet or listen to the same music! Of course, the young Republicans they interviewed said that these things didn't matter to them (duh) and that they told their friends that other issues mattered more to them in choosing a candidate than the candidate's taste in music and internet usage.
Does the Star Tribune REALLY think that this is why the majority of young people prefer Barack Obama over McCain? Is this the reason the Star Trib sees for the majority of young people identifying themselves as democrats? Oh, no. As Cody Holliday, a Republican from Bethel College said in his interview with the Star Trib, "I didn't become a Republican because, you know, I liked an elephant better than a donkey." THAT'S why young people are Democrats! We like the donkeys better!!! But these young Republicans are so much smarter, they choose their candidates for other reasons than music, internet usage, and animal preference. No, these far superior young Republicans base their decisions upon issues such as "economy, gas prices, climate change," said Andrew Foxwell in the article. Democrats? Music and internet usage. Yep.
I'm not trying to be mean to young Republicans (namely Kelsey <3), and I don't believe for one minute that Republicans truly think that these are reasons why young Democrats support Barack Obama. My point is simply that the Star Trib has been disappointing me lately, and I would much appreciate it if the columnists would step it up and resume being the liberal newspaper I know and love.