GA: Libertarian Party Slams Media Blackout of Third Party Candidates

Via Bludgeon and Skewer, a press release from the LPGA:

Libertarian Party of Georgia's Statewide Candidates Snubbed By Atlanta Journal-Constitution
POSTED ON: 05/02/2010
In Saturday's paper, as well as in the online edition Friday night, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution omitted an entire slate of statewide candidates nominated by the Libertarian Party of Georgia on Saturday, April 24th. While not the first time, and certainly not the last, the negligent omission of the party's statewide slate calls into question the integrity of their journalism.

In a Twitter response to something sent out by the state party, the AJC claims to have only used a single source in compiling their list of candidates for statewide office, the Georgia Secretary of State's website, which also notes that candidates who are running as "Independent, Political Body, or Nonpartisan candidates" cannot qualify until June 28th. Since state law, O.C.G.A. 21-2-132(c)(1)(2), does not allow a political body, which the state defines the Libertarian Party of Georgia as, to qualify for another two months, to use the words "how the ballot looks for the statewide races" prior to listing only the Democrats and Republicans who have yet to clear the primary hurdle before them in July is not only patently false, but smacks of lazy journalism. A quick visit to LPGeorgia.com and one click on the "Recap of the 2010 Libertarian Party of Georgia Convention" post on the front page would have netted the entire statewide slate, listed here:

US Senate: Chuck Donovan, Governor: John Monds, Lt. Governor: Rhonda Martini, Attorney General: Don Smart, Secretary of State: David Chastain, School Superintendent: Kira Willis, Insurance Commissioner: Shane Bruce, Agriculture Commissioner: Kevin Cherry, Labor Commissioner: William Costa, PSC (2nd District): Jim Sendelbach

When asked about the omission, Libertarian Party of Georgia chairman, Daniel Adams had this to say, "I'm disappointed that a major metropolitan newspaper in the home of one of the strongest state affiliates of the Libertarian Party would pass on listing our candidates, especially since every single one of them is guaranteed to appear on the November general election ballot. Leaving them off that listing is a disservice to each and every reader, especially with our candidate for governor once again making Georgia history."

"The 2010 nominees of the Libertarian Party of Georgia are the best slate of candidates I've seen the state party bring forth," says Brett Bittner, Operations Director of the Libertarian Party of Georgia. "Their enthusiasm, knowledge, and abilities will show this state how serious we are about making government smaller, lowering taxes and increasing the level of freedom across the state. Their exclusion by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the largest newspaper in the state, brings into question the trust they have with their readership by only providing them with part of the story."

See also Peaches in Regalia.