The Koch Brothers -- billionaire ultra-conservative puppet-masters and
Tea Party funders -- are rumored to be in talks to buy eight newspapers,
including the
LA Times,
Chicago Tribune,
Baltimore Sun,
Orlando Sentinel and
Hartford Courant from the Tribune company, which is emerging from bankruptcy protection. Half of the
LA Times's newsroom has threatened to quit if the Kochs take over.
One thing sure to happen if the Koch brothers take over the paper is a
conservative agenda on the editorial page. As other newspapers have cut
back on editorials and endorsements, the Times is now often the only LA
news outlet that issues endorsements on political candidates and on
ballot measures and initiatives. This is particularly crucial in
California, where even the most educated voter is left clueless and
confused -- or worse, tricked -- after reading the state propositions
put on the ballot by Californians who simply gathered enough signatures
to push a private agenda.
If the Times' editorial page is filled with the Koch brothers'
libertarian opinions, other journalists in LA will need to step up and
voice opposing views.
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