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David Workman: Is Seattle Times ‘truth needle’ report an ‘October surprise?
Today’s Seattle Times carries a fairly detailed, cover-lots-of-bases story about Initiative 591 that asserts in the headline that an advertisement for the measure “misrepresents law enforcement.”
The Seattle Times recommended a “No” vote on I-591 back on July 5, while endorsing rival Initiative 594, the 18-page gun control measure. Today’s story on the I-591 campaign claim that I-591 is supported by law enforcement in the form of two major organizations, the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs (WACOPS) and Washington State Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Association (WSLEFIA) is dubbed “half true” by the newspaper’s “Truth Needle.”
A considerable number of Times readers seem to suggest this story just might meet the definition of a political tactic long known as an “October Surprise.” According to a definition at Wikipedia, “In American political jargon, an October surprise is a news event deliberately created to influence the outcome of an election…the term ‘October surprise’ has been used preemptively during campaign season by partisans of one side to discredit late-campaign news by the other side.” This is the last day of October.
The election is five days away, and ballots are already being filled out and mailed. However, some observers have suggested there will be a late dump of mail-in ballots over the weekend, and especially on Monday and even Tuesday.
Source: http://gunwatch.blogspot.com/2014/11/david-workman-is-seattle-times-truth.html
