The Wisconsin Reporter is about as “nonpartisan” as I am

According to its own website, Wisconsin Reporter “is a nonpartisan organization” purporting to be “dedicated to playing the watchdog role on state government.”

However, as has been noted extensively elsewhere, the Wisconsin Reporter is operated by the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, which itself is funded by the Sam Adams Alliance, a right-wing group committed to “raising awareness of free-market principles and policies.”

In other words, the Wisconsin Reporter is about as non-partisan as the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, which counts among its”nonpartisan” commenters one Charlie Sykes. As anyone who’s heard Sykes speak knows, he’s hardly the epitome of “nonpartisan;” in fact he’s quite the opposite.

Last week someone from the “nonpartisan” Wisconsin Reporter (though it’s not entirely clear who, because the author didn’t attach his name to the article) breathlessly accused Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Graeme Zielinski of threatening the Wisconsin Reporter, but here’s where this story gets funny – Zielinski didn’t threaten to do physical harm; he simply made a promise to expose the Wisconsin Reporter as the biased, partisan shill for the Republican Party by writing letters. Even more shocking and “threatening” to the Wisconsin Reporter, Zielinski indicated he’d let activists know “which papers publish you, and they write the publisher and editor. Then, we contact the Capitol press pool and let them know about our concerns about your credentialing.”

Personally, I hope Graeme Zielinski follows through on his promise to the Wisconsin Reporter, and I’ve got some advice for the folks over at the Wisconsin Reporter: grow a thicker skin and stop whining. While you’re at it, why not come clean and admit that you’re not anything close to unbiased journalists – just admit you’re paid partisan hacks spinning news to suit your own agenda.

Read more at illyT and Cognitive Dissidence.