Fritz Wenzel: Media Whore? You Judge.

[McCamy Taylor]

Here is the story of how he went straight from a job as a political editor at the Toledo Blade to become Jean Schimdt's media strategist.

http://editorandpublisher.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=More%2BDread%2Bin%2BOhio&expire=&urlID=15022010&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.editorandpublisher.com%2Feandp%2Fcolumns%2Fshoptalk_display.jsp%3Fvnu_content_id%3D1001000912&partnerID=60Arti

"Suspicions about partisan leanings were further fueled when Wenzel signed on as media strategist for Schmidt. Disclosure records show Wenzel received $30,000 from Schmidt's campaign on May 16, the day his last column for the Blade appeared, and three days after he left the paper. He got another $30,000 from those coffers a week later, according to records. Part of the money went to media buys.

"Wenzel's career change also renewed rumors, so far unsubstantiated, that his ties to Noe and the GOP may help explain why he not only failed to uncover Coingate but also the illegal funneling investigation. Several Blade editors told me they'd heard rumors that Wenzel learned as early as January 2004 about a federal investigation into Noe's alleged illegal donations, none of which emerged in the press until this past spring."


Makes you wonder what he was writing during last falls election and its aftermath. Here is a sample:

Wenzel attempts to discourage recount by telling voters how expensive it is.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041129/COLUMNIST28/411290313/-1/NEWS

"The $4,950 that Lucas County would receive to re-tally the presidential vote would not begin to cover the costs involved, said elections Director Paula Hicks-Hudson. So you, friendly taxpayer, would pay the balance. For the privilege, you can thank your local Libertarian or Green Party representative next time you're at the shooting range or health food store."

Wenzel attempts to discourage paper trails by telling voters how expensive they are.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040713/NEWS09/407130323&SearchID=73216939574738

"The controversy is partly responsible for the delay in purchasing touch-screen machines in Lucas County. Democratic board members Paula Ross and Diane Brown cited the need to have such receipt printers added to their equipment. They refused to vote with Republicans Bernadette Noe and Sam Thurber to buy touch screens earlier this year, forcing the county to lease optical scan machines for the November election.

"Using the rented optical scan equipment this fall is expected to cost the county at least $350,000, money it would not have had to pay had the elections board voted to buy the touch screens using federal and state money."


Hmmm. For someone who was supposed to be objectively reporting on politics, Wenzel sure was doing Karl Rove's job for him.

[blm]

1. And no doubt there are scores of Wenzels planted in newsrooms all over

the country.

Especially in swing states and blue-collar areas where distracting the voter from the real issues is key for the GOP.

[McCamy Taylor]

2. It's hard to know who to send email to. I sent one to a reporter who

did actual coverage of the election problems in Ohio, figuring that person probably thought Wenzel was a horse's ass and wont just automatically delete the message.

It is very important that when media whores get found out, they get pointed at, mocked and ridiculed, otherwise there is no reason for others not to follow in their sluttist shoes.