The conservative Red Maryland Network blog today detailed what it calls "a virtual news blackout" by the Hagerstown Herald-Mail for the campaign of conservative Republican and former Secret Service presidential detail agent Dan Bongino [pictured at right; photo via Wikipedia] against Maryland Sixth Congressional District Rep. John Delaney.
RedMaryland contributor streiff found that Bongino campaign events since the June 24 primary were covered but twice in the paper -- and one of them was simply a photo with a caption -- compared to eight full stories which substantially focused on Delaney in that time period.
Additionally, streiff noted, "In honor of D-Day, non-veteran, non D-Day veteran, non-Veterans Affairs Committee member (NTTAWWT), Delaney was given the privilege of writing an op-ed on D-Day" only to essentially turn the piece into a vehicle for promoting his service as a congressman.
By contrast (emphasis mine):
When Bongino's campaign inquired about their candidate getting the opportunity to run an op-ed, a mere three days before the Delaney op-ed run, they were told by Executive Editor Jake Wormer that they were allowed a total of 300 words through the primary. The Delaney op-ed is 834 words, nearly three times the length allotted to Bongino and 344 words of this are in fluffing the non-job Delaney has done in DC.
Streiff noted of Delaney's op-ed that it was simply "garden variety electioneering." It's probably safe to say that's an accurate description of the Hagerstown Herald-Mail's thinly-veiled stenography for a liberal Democrat's reelection efforts.
To read the full piece, click here.
