A great equalizer?
Credit: iStock Dzmitry Dzemidovich
Opinion by Ben Everidge for Thomas
Earned Media: A Great equalizer for Independents?
Since qualifying for the United States Senate race in Florida on April 26th, I have issued more than 50 substantive news releases and 50 video vignettes explaining who I am, what I believe in, and how I can best help Floridians meet the challenges they have been dealt with without being as extreme and overly dramatic as my opponents.
One reporter wrote two stories based on the more than 50 news releases and statements. I am baffled that our coverage has been that light because, in my previous life, I’ve had news releases printed in almost every major publication and national broadcast outlet in the United States. I am throwing political media some enticing political fire in these releases that directly address the challenges of the two major party candidates.
As an independent, I understand that my opponents, Rick Scott and Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, have and will outraise me. Being outraised by party-related contributions comes with being independent without the advantage of party infrastructure. However, money should not be the only answer to whether a candidate is qualified for office.
For the two major party candidates, money is the lifeblood of their campaigns. For an independent candidate, policy differences and earned media are the backbone of their campaign.
In American campaigns, money should not be everything, although watching 2024, it is evident that is where we are. What candidates believe in, what they advocate, and how they propose helping Floridians should be of value as well. I firmly believe that the person with the most money should not be able to buy the office. This is not a good outcome for American democracy. I am committed to ensuring in my race that Floridians’ interests are at the forefront of my campaign. I will always prioritize the needs and concerns of the people of Florida, making them feel more secure and cared for because their well-being is my top priority.
From an experience perspective, I am a viable candidate. I have a proven track record and the qualifications necessary to serve the people of Florida. My experience and qualifications should give confidence in my ability to represent Florida effectively, because I have the knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of the U.S. Senate. I am focused on representing the people of Florida effectively, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs are met.
My extensive experience in the United States Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, spanning over a decade, is a testament to my competence. I have served on the professional, committee, and personal office staff, including two members who held the seat Rick Scott is defending this year.
In addition to my Capitol Hill experience, I earned a master’s degree in American government from Georgetown University, where I was named a prestigious University Fellow. Couple those experiences with more than thirty years of work experience in the private sector, and I am as credible as any candidate might be for this office.
In the speech he was to have given at the Dallas Trade Mart the afternoon he was assassinated, President John F. Kennedy wanted to warn Americans to be aware of the security risks our nation faces from both outside as well as within our shores.
President Kennedy referenced this dire warning by quoting scripture. “For as it was written long ago: 'Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.'”
Those security risks JFK worried about are as present today as they were that fateful November day in 1963, and they may be more dangerous today.
Members of the political media play a crucial role in preserving democracy, especially in an era when big money and extraordinary personal wealth buy offices voters who have politicians they cannot defeat and who have little or no true allegiance to the public good.
Case-in-point? U.S. Senator Rick Scott of Florida.
Rick is the richest senator in Congress, and much of his wealth came from his time as founder and CEO of Columbia HCA, the über chain of hospitals he led into the then-largest Medicare fraud case in American history. Rick’s leadership led to Columbia HCA admitting to 14 felonies and paying a record $1.7 billion fine for their legal transgressions before pushing Scott out of his founding role with a $359.88 million golden parachute.
The Senator, as we have seen in recent months, would like you to believe that he and Columbia HCA were politically persecuted rather than legally prosecuted for their crimes. Rick will fail to remind you that Columbia HCA was pursued by both a Democratic- and Republican-managed U.S. Department of Justice, meaning they were prosecuted bipartisanly by the Justice Departments under Democratic President Bill Clinton and Republican President George W. Bush.
Espousing love for the radical Tea Party in 2010 and, ultimately, Donald Trump’s divisive Make America Great Again movement in 2016, Scott used his Columbia HCA-acquired wealth to run for governor of Florida twice, then the United States Senate, and now for re-election in 2024.
Rick Scott has spent $169 million of his personal money to secure those offices, the last of which pays $174,000 a year in salary. One must wonder what Rick gets for that kind of excessive investment in running for public office. One must also wonder how much more of his wealth he will invest in winning our Senate seat before our campaign spending reports come out next.
What We Look for In U.S. Senators
We know that buying one’s office is not what the American government is supposed to be about. American government is supposed to be about public service and doing good for our citizens without resorting to personal gain and self-interest.
When candidates for public office abuse the ballot box by spending outrageous sums of money to buy their election, it falls to the political media to help level the playing field. That is if an opposing candidate can convince the media to perform that role in protecting the tenets of American democracy in defense of our constitutional republic.
Political Media Balance the Political Marketplace
How can political media help balance the political marketplace when balance does not exist? In several effective ways which media understand but is worth repeating here:
Political Media Can Better Provide More Accurate and Timely Information - Ensuring the public can access factual, unbiased, and timely information about events and issues is foundational to a well-informed electorate.
Holding Power Accountable - Investigative journalism that scrutinizes the actions of those in power, especially government officials and institutions, helps prevent abuses of power and corruption.
Promoting Transparency - By making complex governmental and legislative processes understandable to the public, the media helps citizens engage more effectively with democratic institutions.
Encouraging Civic Engagement - Coverage highlighting the importance of voting, local governance, and community involvement can foster a more active and engaged citizenry.
Providing a Platform for More Diverse Voices - Including a wide range of perspectives and communities ensures that the public discourse reflects society's diversity and helps prevent the marginalization of minority groups.
Drawing Attention to All the Candidates in a Race Like the U.S. Senate – Through earned media that profiles the candidates running for office and details their policy proposals where they have a demonstrated expertise can enlighten the electorate with options and potential solutions.
Fact-Checking and Combating Misinformation - Actively debunking false information and providing clear, evidence-based reporting helps maintain public trust and prevent the spread of harmful rumors and conspiracy theories.
Educating the Public on Democratic Principles - Offering content that explains the principles and functioning of democratic institutions and processes can deepen public understanding and appreciation of democracy.
Fostering Constructive Dialogue - Encouraging respectful and informed debate on essential issues helps build a more cohesive and resilient society.
Promoting Media Literacy - Educating the public on critically evaluating news sources and recognizing bias can empower individuals to make informed decisions and reduce susceptibility to misinformation.
Florida’s U.S. Senate Seat
In fulfilling such roles, the political media - national, state, and local - can help ensure that democracy remains robust and responsive to the needs of its citizens and does not reward those with deep pockets who subvert American democracy for personal gain.
We need the media to help combat the extremes that the political spectrum persistently encounters, where unsubstantiated bravado is rewarded and truthful transparency is shunned.
We need the media to flush candidates out of the smoke-filled backrooms where dirty deals are made and into the sunshine where good government can prevail.
We need the media not to be cowered by Donald Trump’s and Rick Scott’s unceasing allegations of being the “enemy of the people.” They are not.
We need the media to realize that they are uniquely the watchmen who ensure that the government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish.
These are dangerous times with real-world ramifications and consequences. Our race for the United States Senate in Florida is the canary in the coal mine for the future of American democracy.
Unlike in most states, Florida has a far-right incumbent Republican, a far-left Democrat challenger, and a middle-of-the-road political independent running in 2024. That means Florida voters have three clear and distinctive directions for this state. Still, big-money politics only promotes the two extremes and not the 3.9 million voters who are not registered Republicans or Democrats.
There needs to be more focus on the consequences for Florida and the nation because if Rick Scott is allowed to buy the election, he will likely be the next Republican leader of the United States Senate with the power to advance essentially unchecked Donald Trump’s ambition to be dictator for a day - or longer - whether Trump sits at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue as the 47th president or not.
Don’t Let Big Money Politics Buy the Office Unchecked
We need members of the political media! Money cannot buy the attention required, but earned media should be able to help point out how the three political perspectives are represented in this 2024 race.
The media is essential to American democracy and a great equalizer for any independent running for office!