I’m sure we all recall the Disney song from the 1930’s by the same name, sung by 2 of the 3 little pigs as they danced around arrogantly believing their houses of straw and twigs would protect them from the Big Bad Wolf. It seems many in Clark County who have been arrogantly dancing around, feeling their own houses of straw and twigs are indestructible have created their own Big Bad Wolf, except this one isn’t so big or bad. In fact, he’s actually a nice guy and a very successful businessman.
What makes him a Big Bad Wolf is he isn’t going along with the current house of straw and twigs scheme in strapping struggling taxpayers with decades of tolls and higher taxes to pay for unneeded expensive projects that many members of the ruling class in Clark County desire.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, yes I am speaking of the owner of U.S. Digital, David Madore. David sees clearly how such projects as extending light rail from Portland across a new I-5 bridge is financially unsound and has spoken out, being gaveled down, ridiculed and made out to be a Big Bad Wolf by the ruling class and newspaper of record in Clark County for exercising his freedom of speech in openly exposing the project.
Mr. Madore started an informational website covering many subjects at Couv.com where he has hosted several interviews of people in the news. He offered to post interviews of all 6 of the candidates running for city council, only to have 3 scoff at the idea simply because he has been painted as the Big Bad Wolf.
It was previously noted how there was a concerted effort to marginalize and demean David Madore and those who stood with him.
It appears to be continuing in this city council race, not only because 3 candidates balk at the idea of a third party interview through his Couve.com but also as seen in questions being asked in other so called “fair” interviews seen on CVTV for positions 4 and 6 where candidates Bill Turlay and Josephine Wentzel were both asked about their ties to Mr. Madore.
I find questions as to whether or not these 2 would be beholding to Mr. Madore objectionable considering their opponents are supported, endorsed and funded by public unions, wealthy supporters of light rail and developers, including one who sought and recently received a $1 Million property tax abatement for an apartment building he is building downtown. No one seems too concerned whether or not candidates will be beholding to them, only David Madore.
If Millionaires like Ed Lynch, Ellie Kassab and public unions are free to finance, support or endorse candidates who share their views and values, why is David Madore demeaned for supporting candidates who share his views and values?
The last I have heard, this is still America where we are all free to support, donate and endorse any candidate of our choosing within election laws. That our newspaper of record, the Columbian sees fit to pick and choose who should support who or receive support from who long before they make any editorial endorsements is not only a disservice to voters in Clark County, it is manipulative and biased.
All candidates deserve a fair look and fair vetting by the community and the media to give voters a clear view of who they are selecting. Slanting interviews of coverage of any to tie them to an endorser those who stand to increase their wealth might not care much for, while not holding their opponents supported by those who stand to increase their wealth is uncalled for.
Voters can and should make their own choices. Slanting coverage denies voters an opportunity to make the best decision in who to vote for and can give us poorly equipped leaders, chosen for us by a few who stand to benefit the most.
If we are to hold candidates responsible for who supports them then it must be across the board, including public unions and Millionaire developers who stand to gain by collective bargaining and property tax abatements.
No one has shown yet how Mr. Madore stands to gain anything financially in his support of candidates. He can only “huff and puff and blow their houses of straw and twigs in” by exposing the questionable things going on in Clark County today.
UPDATE: Andrea Damewood from the Columbian has taken exception to this post.
As I assured her, this post is about more than just her interview. It is actually about one backer being targeted by many within the community and by some at the Columbian for so long. I fail to see other backers being demeaned by others in city and county government and the editorial staff of the Columbian as they have Mr. Madore.
See also Andrea’s latest Columbian All Politics is Local post Well, what DO you like?
