I know that election season can be rough (been there – done that). The hours are long, the pressure is high, and sleep comes at a premium. But the VERY last thing a candidate should ever do, in fact this can be wise advice for anyone, is pick a fight with a newspaper editor.
You see, as a candidate you can spend a month walking a precinct and knocking on doors. Each time you do, you can tell a person who you are and what you stand for. At the end of the month, you’ve probably worn out a pair of shoes and developed calluses on your knuckles – and maybe you spoke to a couple of thousand people.
Newspapers reach ten times that many people each day.
So when candidate for Madera County Supervisor David Rogers allegedly brought a newspaper editor to tears with threats to get her fired and verbal dressing-down, it probably wasn’t a high point for his political career.
The police report didn’t help make his day better.
In fact, I think that was an all-around bad day for Mr. Rogers.
You can read the about the entire melodrama by clicking right here (newspaper site)
The good news for everyone else is that this presents us with a great opportunity for a refresher in our campaign lessons:
1. * Don’t fight with voters.
2. * Don’t fight with newspapers.
* And remember that everything you say or do can be used against you in the court of public opinion.
These lessons were lost on Mr. Rogers, don’t let them be lost on you, too.