C-J's contest on the Fletcher ad

On Tuesday, the editorial board of the (Louisville) Courier-Journal responded with undignified and surprising hysteria about a political ad by Governor Fletcher in his campaign against Democratic challenger, Steve Beshear. While somewhat distasteful and distorting the truth to some extent, the Fletcher effort is well within the norm for political advertising (as sad as that is) and at some level, amusing and clever (rather than the standard: vicious efforts without creativity).

In addition to reproducing the ad in the paper and editorializing against it, the C-J decided to sponsor a "contest", with people sending in their entries:

This fabricated photo is a new low for Kentucky politics. So we put it to you, the reader, to come up with something even more outrageous. One-up the Fletcher campaign by sending The Courier-Journal the most shameful, doctored gubernatorial campaign ad you can think of. The best will be featured in Forum. Just remember, facts are meaningless!

Maybe, with that last sentence, the C-J is communicating its worldview? In any case, the contest entries will probably range from vicious to hilarious. I look forward to seeing what they come up with!

While annoying liberal and ironically closed-minded at times, the editorial board is usually predictable-- but I was surprised at their level of angst with this ad. Apparently, Fletcher's ad hit a sensitive spot, someone woke up cranky, and/or they spun themselves into an angry funk.

Since Tuesday, the paper has taken a well-deserved beating from some spot-on letters from their readers. In Thursday’s edition, four letter writers took some nice pokes. And this morning, someone took up their challenge to explain “how a local casino will make women get abortions?”

You asked someone to explain, "How a local casino will make women get abortions." Gambling is usually accompanied with the drinking of alcoholic beverages. Drinking alcohol excessively often leads to breakdowns of resistance to desires. ("What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.") A breakdown of desires could lead to unwanted pregnancy. Some unwanted pregnancies lead to abortions.

TOM WOOD; Louisville 40222

With comments on the C-J webpage, two writers had a similar response:

…if "meaningless facts", "doctored" and "fabricated" are the three main criteria to the contest, then I nominate the Courier Journal's Editoral Board and their political endorsements. Couldn't fit the bill any better.

Facts are meaningless? Sounds like the C.J. everyday.

I’m not sure what to think. Am I being properly amused by all of this or is it just appealing to my lower nature? ;-)