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Friday, May 4, 2012

2012 / Media / Election If Jay Inslee Falls in a Forest, and No One Is Around to Hear Him, Does He Make a Sound?

Posted by Goldy on Fri, May 4, 2012 at 5:14 PM

Yesterday there was a huge rally over at the new campaign headquarters gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee shares with the state Democratic coordinated campaign and President Obama's Washington reelection staff. About 800 enthusiastic supporters showed up to hear Inslee talk, along Democratic National Committee chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), King County Executive Dow Constantine, and state Democratic Party chair Dwight Pelz.

Lots of fighting words and resounding rounds of applause. You might have read about it or saw it on the TV news. That is, assuming any reporters had actually bothered to show up.

Only four journalists bothered to sign in as press: me from The Stranger, Jordan Schrader from the News Tribune, education blogger Melissa Westbrook, and of course a reporter from the Times. The Seattle Emerald Chinese Times. I couldn't help but be reminded of a snarky comment in yesterday's thread on the 90 women suing Rob McKenna:

Note to Jay Inslee: This would be a great time to remind people that you are an alternative to McKenna by, oh, I don't know, being in the public eye a little bit more. Just a thought...

Of course, being in public and being in the public eye are two different things. I can't tell you how many times I've heard the complaint that Inslee has been an anemic campaigner. But honestly, how many voters could possibly have a reasonable take on the size and frequency of Inslee's campaign appearances if reporters don't bother to show up and report on them?

I couple weeks back I complained that "Inslee has never quite gotten the coverage he deserves," and as the refusal to cover yesterday's event shows, that hasn't changed.

I get it. There wasn't likely to be much actual news generated at yesterday's rally, and as far as I could tell, apart from the fact that it happened, there wasn't. But there isn't any actual news generated at most campaign events. That's just the way this game is played.

Whatever. Eventually the paid media in this campaign will overwhelm the impact of the earned media, making what little is left of our state's political press corps less and less relevant. But in the meanwhile, just because you don't see Jay Inslee in the public eye doesn't mean he isn't there... at least in the eyes of those members of the public and the press who actually bother to show up.

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So, two journalists

Posted by Reader01 on May 4, 2012 at 5:48 PM

THERE ARE FOUR LIGHTS!

Posted by Kinison

on May 4, 2012 at 6:59 PM

Wasn't Inslee a House Representative for 10 years?!

Did he never groom the press and make his own contacts?

No...Sleepy Jay did not...

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on May 4, 2012 at 8:11 PM

It hurts to agree with Bailo, but I must.

Inslee and/or his staff had better schmooze the media a bit more or no one will realize he's running. I'll vote for him because I can't stand McKenna, but I can't think of a single story I've read about his representation in Congress.

Posted by sarah70 on May 4, 2012 at 10:31 PM

Jay Inslee is the Ron Paul of Seattle. He could win if you'd just pay attention to him! Media conspiracy!

Posted by Brandon J. on May 4, 2012 at 11:19 PM

Have you met Jay Inslee in person? Complete creeper. No surprise he doesn't have a dedicated loyal following.

Posted by K3 on May 4, 2012 at 11:32 PM

Seattle Times and the networks don't even have to pretend to be even handed much anymore. There is no opposition to shed light on their bias, just Goldy. I figure the Stranger is now so too cool for school that they can't even provide a counterweight by pushing Inslee on the cover or heavy in the paper, because they want to get invited to the mainstream parties. This despite his steadily improving numbers...

Posted by cracked on May 4, 2012 at 11:33 PM

If you want to meet Jay Inslee, come to Bob Ferguson's Shrimp Feed this Sunday at Northgate Community Center!

www.electbobferguson.com

Posted by Bigsfrottin on May 4, 2012 at 11:56 PM

Inslee has caught up in the polls because people are getting to learn more about him while also realizing McKenna is a rightwing extremist. I've spoken with Inslee many times about public education, and he is the only candidate for Governor with a plan to provide a quality public education for ALL students in WA. Inslee has traveled all over the state for 2 years and that is a fact even if the media isn't present. Wait for the TV debates, then there will be plenty of proof Inslee is the best candidate for Governor.

Posted by stephen miller on May 5, 2012 at 8:16 AM

Jay Inslee: no new taxes! Read his lips.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Insle…

Posted by spock on May 5, 2012 at 9:24 AM

I am perplexed.

Jay is smart. He has won elections before. But this event was not good. The space was horrible. (Goldy, thanks for saying I was there - I was - but I didn't stay when they were 20 minutes late with no announcement.)

Something is wrong with this campaign and they need to get a grip...now.

Posted by westello on May 5, 2012 at 9:46 AM

Jay has a horrible campaign going ... westello is right .. his staff must think he doesn’t need any help winning. Whoever runs his FB page is a loser .. it’s VERY frustrating watching this not unfold!

Posted by olive oyl on May 5, 2012 at 11:09 AM

Something is wrong with this campaign and they need to get a grip...now."

Could it be that neocons posing as dems sometimes really come across as what they truly are?

Isn't this kiddo a free mark guy? Doesn't he espouse that the free market will solve global climate change?

Hasn't he supported the mass offshoring of American jobs?

Exactly what part of him (didn't Dwight Pelz put the kibosh on marriage equality recent???) doesn't come across as more neocon? Because he says nicey things about equality for everyone --- but what is his voting record?

People say the same stuff about Maria Cantwell without realizing she has a 100% anti-worker voting record and 100% pro-war voting record.

Why hasn't Goldy mentioned Inslee's voting record yet????

Is there something scary about it?????? By their voting records ye shall know them....

Discuss....

Posted by sgt_doom on May 5, 2012 at 11:25 AM

I found the event to be quite heartening. I attended out of concern for the way Inslee is running the campaign but I left reassured that he has a dedicated and energized base. Wasserman Schultz was quite impressive as well. Inslee will walk away with this one, I agree with the comment regarding televised debates.

Posted by espato on May 5, 2012 at 11:25 AM

@8, that illustrates the main problem with Inslee's campaign. He's running for Governor, for pete's sake, and yet you're inviting people to meet him at SOMEONE ELSE'S annual campaign picnic.

Inslee may have a dedicated base (mainly consisting of Seattle voters), but without more public presence, the independents will vote for McKenna because of his name recognition.

Posted by sarah70 on May 5, 2012 at 11:34 AM

His campaign is dead, Jim.

(I'll vote for him, because McKenna is a douchebag... but Ma and Pa Yakima sure won't)

Posted by Karlheinz Arschbomber

on May 5, 2012 at 2:29 PM

Oh for stupid, as my mid-western relatives would say. IT'S MAY. The election is six months away. Nobody is paying attention. If this was September, then I'd be worried.

Posted by Teslick on May 5, 2012 at 9:45 PM

@17, that's what's been said about Inslee's campaign for months now -- "There's plenty of time, it's only XXX (fill in month)." Meanwhile, McKenna's been running for 4 years -- all his political life, actually, and people are paying attention to him. His face and his words are everywhere. This isn't an equal contest; Inslee has to work harder than McKenna.

Posted by sarah70 on May 6, 2012 at 12:00 AM

Thousands of pics on FB and twitter.

Problem was, it was sunny.

Posted by Will in Seattle

on May 7, 2012 at 12:13 PM

We want you to get elected because we believe in what you have previously stood up for, primarily the environment in its entire. Step up! Make some calls to people that will support you publically: Sen. Patty Murray, Cantwell, Gregoire? How about another Democrat, as in the President?? Come ON. The talk among my Democratic friends is: Where the Heck is Inslee??? If you won’t stand up for yourself, how can everybody else? Please! Get out there and start talking. What ARE you waiting for? We cannot stand the idea of a Mr. Garrison look-alike running the show out here.

Posted by AMVote on June 7, 2012 at 6:56 PM

We want Inslee to get elected because we believe in what you have previously stood up for, primarily the environment in its entire. Step up! Make some calls to people that will support you in a public way. Sen. Patty Murray, Cantwell, Gregoire? How about another Democrat, as in the President!?? Come ON. The talk among my Democratic friends is: Where the Heck is Inslee??? If you won’t stand up for yourself, how can everybody else? Please! Get out there and start talking, and get a network camera rolling on you. What ARE you waiting for? We cannot stand the idea of a Mr. Garrison look-alike running the show out here.

Posted by AMVote on June 7, 2012 at 7:06 PM

Right here, on this very sight, what do I see? An ad for McKenna! The stats see you as sort of leading in some obscure poll, and LOSING in others. It's still a tight race. DO something, please!
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/…

Posted by AMVote on June 7, 2012 at 7:14 PM

I could never vote for Jay Inslee, no matter his affiliation. The true test for an individual is his behavior when he thinks no one is watching. As I was waiting in the ferry line on the Bainbridge side on the Fourth, he was coming off the boat. We learn in kindergarten that we stay to the right and waiting our turn speeds everything up. Well, he must believe rules do not apply to him. He close to walk through those waiting in their line to board. Small matter...maybe. But another big indicator of his lack of respect for his constituency at any level...very yes!

Posted by Nancy Schweitzer on July 5, 2012 at 8:53 AM