Left In Lowell

I was going to give some of the details on Lowell City Councilwoman and former Mayor Eileen Donoghue’s campaign kick-off today in Lowell but I just read Marie Sweeney’s post on richardhowe.com and she did an excellent job. As Chairperson of the Greater Lowell Area Democrat she knows everyone and is an experienced political observer.

And helping me to spot faces in the crowd, was my co-blogger Kristin. Lynne would have joined us but she had work commitment.

Eileen, who was accompanied by her husband John O’Connor, was introduced by Lowell’s State Senator and Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, Steve Panagiatakos. Mayor Bill Martin gave the opening remarks.

She delivered a great speech. It was passionate, reflective, visionary and positive. It was obvious that Eileen was visibly moved by the support shown to her today. (Some people did attempt to give her a rough morning.) And it was equally obvious that she is tough fighter who has no intentions of quitting.

Everyone wants to berate bloggers for being anonymous or unaccountable (we are accountable, but that’s for another post) or operating in pajamas (I’m not, actually). But who in their right mind believes anything that is said on WCAP anymore?

The local radio station is absolutely famous for live smearing, lying, innuendo-based rumor-spreading. Once upon a time, the morning talk show host (a local, er, discelebrity) focused his eye on this blog and me, calling me as bad or as extreme (I can’t quote exactly, because WCAP isn’t the sort of legitimate operation that records or archives what crosses its microphones…I wonder why?) as Hitler, David Duke and the KKK, and…horrifically…NAMBLA. It only stopped when I pointed out that they were driving my traffic up, or when George got bored, or both. A couple weeks ago, he was ranting crazy about Western Ave Studios because…get this…artists here were engaging in the long time-honored tradition of *gasp!!!* painting nudes. NUDE ART!!! IN LOWELL!!! Save the children, by God!

But it doesn’t end there. Dick Howe caught a “breaking news story” on WCAP this morning where news director Gary Francis (did you get that? news director) “led the 7:30 a.m. news with a report he attributed to ‘political insiders’ that Eileen Donoghue ‘may’ drop out of the Congressional race within the next seven days.” Which, it turns out, is patently false according to all factual sources (like, say, Donoghue herself, who is officially announcing her candidacy today). Of course, WCAP doesn’t corroborate their story first, or call the person in question to get their side, they just put it out there. Even the Sun can (mostly) manage that much in their news.

I’ve pretty much ignored WCAP. Frankly, I have a risk of high blood pressure along with my PKD, and I honestly don’t think they’re worth my time, anyway. But they seem to want to be taken seriously on the local political scene. I don’t think they realize that no one does take them seriously. Even their frequent guests are forced to resign themselves to being on the air there because, first, when faced in person with those they love to berate, they calm the hell down at least while they’re there; and second, because local venues are few and far between and at least you can get your message out. People that I know who listen? They want to keep track of the stupid things said on WCAP. Better to know it so you can fight it. I admire their courage and their bravery.

Is that the sort of brand they wanted to build over there? One of laughable credibility, slanderous (I’m guessing it’s a matter of time before they’re sued) accusations and stories, and of course, an agenda that’s obvious to the rest of us but which they think is hidden? And in between, some of the most inane conversation this side of the Connecticut River. I will never forget the time I turned on WCAP in the afternoon, and they were talking about farting on airplanes. And that’s one of the more classier segments I’ve heard aired.

Look, I am finding out first hand how hard it is to produce jabber over the airwaves. I am considered in some circles to be a talker; at least my mother constantly says so. And all I have to fill is a 20 minute time slot every Friday, finding one set of guests per week, and yeah, it’s damned hard. (Especially on a volunteer basis.) However, I strive for some level of professionalism, despite the fact I didn’t know thing #1 about radio before last fall. I feel a responsibility for what I say on this blog and on the air. WCAP is an institution, for sure, but I honestly don’t understand where they come off pretending to be legitimate. Not in their local live talk, and certainly not in their syndicated schedule, which features Michael Savage, a worse bigot and liar than Don Imus ever was. (By the way, their site advertises that they have Air America host Jerry Springer on every weekday morning from 10 to noon, but that must be totally outdated because that’s not what’s on there now and it’s almost 11am. Instead, I was accosted by some nationally-syndicated jerk citing some study about Jews. And because the study says Jews are smarter then gentiles this host must think it’s OK, despite the fact this study came from the same guy who wrote a book about how black Africans are less smart genetically than whites. Uh huh.)

That’s WCAP in a nutshell. Like with Don Imus, a little light of day shining on these people wouldn’t be a bad thing. I might just take on the task. Stay tuned.