by Lowman S. Henry | June 16, 2003

Patriot-News survey reveals Left-wing bias

Pennsylvania is a state where politicians who stay firmly planted in the “mushy middle” of the day’s policy debates tend to do well and move up the political spectrum. Anyone who strays too far to the Left, or – even worse –too far to the Right, becomes marginalized.

And so it is that the Harrisburg Patriot-News, the Capital city’s daily newspaper, recently published its “Top of the list on Capitol Hill.” In a nutshell, the article was similar to those polls of the student body high school seniors publish about this time every year naming a “class clown” and “most likely to succeed.”

In similar insular fashion the newspaper asked 152 “insiders” (because nobody else in the state counts in Harrisburg) their view of state lawmakers. Included among the “insiders” were legislative staff, lobbyists, and lawmakers themselves. Keep in mind none of the voters back home were asked their opinions.

The “insider” poll triggered a front page headline breathlessly announcing that Speaker of the House John Perzel, and Senate President Pro Tempore Bob Jubelierer were viewed as the most powerful men in the legislature. What a surprise! Imagine, the two men who hold the top leadership posts in their respective legislative chambers named “most powerful” by their peers, people they employ, and people who depend on their favors to earn a living. Who would have thought it? Perhaps next the Patriot-News can conduct a poll and find out what Pennsylvanians think of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden. We’ll all be on the edge of our seats waiting for the outcome of that one.

The Patriot-News’ bias, however, was hung out for all to see when it came time to crown a “class clown.” This being a respectable newspaper, however, the category was renamed “Biggest Embarrassment to the House.” Here conservative firebrand Darryl Metcalfe, a Butler County Republican, won top “honors.”

Metcalfe’s push to revoke Temple University’s state funding after the university proposed giving benefits to the partners of gay employees was cited as the reason for his disfavor among his colleagues. Worse, Temple University is in Speaker Perzel’s back yard. Apparently, a State Representative from Butler County is not supposed to question what happens in Philadelphia, especially when the Speaker hails from the City of Brotherly Love.

It should also be noted that Metcalfe, who represents one of the most conservative constituencies in the state, has also championed such causes as a state constitutional amendment to limit spending, creative and effective tax reform legislation, and enactment of a Right to Work law.

Contrast Metcalfe’s treatment by the Patriot-News with that of State Senator Allen Kukovich, perhaps the best known Liberal crusader in the legislature. Kukovich was dubbed the “Biggest Credit to the Senate” for his views. He was glowingly described as the “best practical politician of the legislature’s idealist brigade.”

I have known Allen Kukovich since his first run for public office over 20 years ago. He is indeed a principled man whose convictions and sincerity on the issues he champions are real and deeply felt. His views, however, are also wildly out of tune with the conservative Westmoreland County district he represents.

Representative Metcalfe is also a principled public servant. Having worked with him on a number of policy efforts, I have found him to be principled, studious, and hard-working. Like Senator Kukovich, he truly believes in the issues he advocates. Unlike the liberal Senator, his views are reflective of the people he represents.

That brings us back to the Patriot-News article. Why is it that a liberal ideologue is a “credit” to his institution, and a conservative crusader is an “embarrassment,” especially when the conservative is representing the views of the voters in his district and the liberal is not?

The answers lie in the insular “insider” world of Harrisburg politics in which the survey was conducted, a place where Liberals are celebrated and Conservatives are damned – along with the majority of Pennsylvanians they represent. And, could it be that perhaps the Patriot’s liberal bias was again on display? Nah! Who could ever accuse the news media of a liberal bias?