Anti-Clement Narrative Takes Shape

Working hand-in-glove with the Karl Dean campaign, the Tennessean, in four articles , maintained a consistent narrative that Bob Clement was an old meanie. By the technical media term "inoculation" Dean's first speech was that he would not go negative.  By implication, any criticism coming his way would then be "mud-slinging."  So anything Clement does by way of pointing out the negatives of Dean's record will then be diminished.

True enough, the work of Public Defender does put Dean in contact with the worst of the worst.  But there was plenty of other activity--not so newsworthy--related to Dean's control of the Metro Legal Department which could provide strong issues for teachers and civil servants.  The problem for Clement is to make the public aware that the details of government are more important than the glitz of the campaigns.

Update 1 (9Aug07)

    In a news article hidden deeply in the newspaper, the Tennessean said that Karl Dean was endorsed by the Nashville Business Coalition.  This business group was the same one that has fought MNEA in every school board election, since 2000.  Despite the earlier story (8Aug07) that Dean was the candidate with vision for the future, and Bob Clement was the candidate of "holding taxes and small government," the truth is obviously more complex.

Update 2 (9Aug07)

In a blistering editorial, Erick Huth criticized Pedro Garcia's transfer ideas in the Slate of 8Aug07).  For political reasons, Huth did not mention Karl Dean's role in enabling Garcia to flout the Educational Agreement's provision on transfers.  The contract still means something, but getting a legal remedy is expensive in time and money because of Metro Legal Department's misinterpretations of the contract in 2002.

Update 3 (14Aug07)

The Tennessean in both the Sunday and Monday issues, gave evenhanded stories to both the Clement and the Dean campaigns.  Either the large number of friends of Bob Clement recognized the earlier hit job and complained, or the editor is posturing in the middle of the campaign for credibility with the undecided voters.