6.8.07 - Typical Attempt to Tar Richardson

Sunday the Journal's lead was a huge story (over two pages) that listed every possible "shady" deal of NM oil man Johnny Cope.

Despite having no evidence of any wrong doing, the J cited every contribution to the Governor's campaign and other NM democrats. The J's "investigative reporter," Thomas Cole thus attempted to make a case that, somehow, the Governor was at fault for taking money from Cole. Indeed, for a Republican paper, the J seems to have an unusual problem with people who donate money to political candidates.

If you are scratching your head at this logic, you are not alone. Headlined "Tycoon Backs Governor All the Way," the article tried to make a case of guilt by association, even though the association was with a person who did nothing wrong. Surely, the J doth protest too much.

If this is the best investigative journalism the Journal can do, in a state rife with corruption (both Republicans and Democrats), perhaps the J should go back to doing front page stories on the need to landscape I-40.