Condit a victim “caught in the middle” of the controversy over a missing intern? That’s how Tuesday’s New York Times portrayed him in a story about his financial situation.
“Condit Facing Bills in Inquiry With Few Financial Resources,” bemoaned the July 17 story by James Risen and Raymond Bonner. They began: “Representative Gary A. Condit, the California Democrat caught in the middle of the controversy surrounding the disappearance of the government intern Chandra Ann Levy, has few financial resources with which to deal with the personal and political crisis building around him, his congressional financial disclosure records show.
“Mr. Condit is facing big expenses for his team of lawyers and public relations advisers and it is unclear what resources he has to pay them. Mr. Condit reported no outside income besides his $145,100 Congressional salary in his most recent disclosure statements, which are required of all House members, the records show.”
No one made him choose a high-priced lawyer or bring aboard pricey PR advisers.
And Besides, He's a Conservative
According to ABC News, Condit, his district and his enemies are all “conservative”. Tuesday’s World News Tonight failed to identify Condit as a Democrat, but made sure viewers realized he’s being attacked by “conservatives” as “many constituents” in his “conservative” district “still relate to Condit’s conservative politics.”
Peter Jennings set up the July 17 story: “In Washington today Congressman Gary Condit’s Chief-of-Staff issued a statement to say that Mr. Condit will be forthcoming with his constituents about the case of Chandra Levy in good time. But in the meantime, the statement went on, conservative political groups should not exploit Miss Levy’s disappearance for their own purposes. Mr. Condit may have been referring to groups in his California district who are calling for his resignation. He has always been enormously popular there. But the scrutiny is taking a toll.”
David Wright began from Modesto: “Deep in California’s heartland the 18th congressional district is farm country — conservative, mostly white, small town America. This region has the highest proportion of families in all of California…”
If it’s so “conservative” why did it elect far-left Democrat Tony Coelho followed by the more moderate but not conservative Condit?
Wright outlined Condit’s career without mentioning his party: “In his 30 year career representing this community Gary Condit has never lost an election. His most recent race, back in November, he won by 67 percent, that’s better than two out of every three votes. His seat was thought to be one of the safest in California. No longer. Outside his office today a protest rally. Local Republicans see an opportunity.”
That note about Republican opposition was the only hint that Condit might be a Democrat.
After a soundbite from a local GOP leader and clips of some constituents defending Condit from media attacks, Wright played a soundbite from a woman not so sure she would vote again for Condit. Wright then concluded: “Many constituents still relate to Condit’s conservative politics, just not to his family values.”
His “conservative policies”? He’s earned a lifetime 48 percent rating from the American Conservative Union, which hardly makes him conservative. The liberal Americans for Democratic Action has approved of just over half, 52 percent, of his votes since he took his House seat in 1989. Those ratings put him in the middle of the spectrum, voting liberal half the time and conservative half the time — the very definition of a moderate.
(This update courtesy of the Media Research Center
