Cicilline on the Hunt Trail: A Photo Caption Contest
Is it possible that pro-Democrat bias is creeping back into the ProJo’s coverage of the race for the First Congressional District?
Photographs of the three declared candidates for RI-1 adorned the front page of today’s Providence Journal. In one of them, the candidate is frowning into the sun as he speaks. In the second, the candidate is power-steepling with a skeptical, uninviting expression on his face. In the third (front and center, actually), the candidate is holding a plate of food as he gazes earnestly at a constituent.
Now guess the party affiliation of each candidate?
You are correct! And the unspoken message is, vote for the Democrat. Because the Republicans are gruff and tough. But the Democrat is sweet and nice.
… sweet and nice if you had zero knowledge of the particular Democrat’s record and his aversion to honesty. Not the case here.
So. Caption contest of the Cicilline photo.
Here’s mine – in part, cribbed from WHJJ’s Helen Glover. It’s impossible to exclude the Catbert-esque feel of the tableau.
(thought balloon over DC’s head) “Purrrr. Listen to my lies. Purrrr. The Republicans will snatch the check from your hand. Purrrr. And the very bread from your mouth. Purrrr …”
They’re not particularly forgiving to Tea Partiers either, check out the horrible picture on this one:
http://www.projo.com/news/content/COSTA_MIDSESSION_PROFILE_05-09-11_FBNTLB4_v20.2f66384.html
And they always pick the fat firemen to put on the front page.
How could there be a fat fireman? All we hear is what high mental and physical standards the job requires. I’ve been smugly informed dozens of times that I could never hope to qualify (by those who know absolutely nothing about me.)
“unshun”
What is the matter with you, Dan?”
“shun”
I’m well, Michael. How are you?
You must be in good spirits to be playing childish silent-treatment games.
When I think of the ideal public servant, condescention, unaccountability, elitism, and disdain aren’t usually what come to mind. But as you frequently make clear on your personal blog, firefighting is the hardest job in the history of mankind, so you’re entitled to bad behavior and a little mouthing off to those who pay your salary from time to time.
I would have been fired a long time ago for representing my office the way you do.
Dan, I assume this is the piece you found so offensive and grounds for firing. Fire away. “They call us niggers, spicks, crackers, douchebags, assholes and punks. They punch, spit ,kick, bite, head-butt, and throw things. They piss on the floor of the rescue, shit on the stretcher and put their bloody hands, their blood infected with Hepatitis and HIV on us. “We’re public servants and we need to have thicker skin. … We’re expected to take verbal abuse — to an extent,” City of Providence Public Safety Commissioner Stephen Pare Sorry Mr. Commissioner, but I respectfully disagree. Just as I have to use the word “respectfully” addressing you, the citizens of Providence, and everywhere must also use respect while interacting with us. It can be no other way. To allow, and condone any degree of disrespect to anybody, public servant or not is unacceptable. If the public, who called us to help them cannot muster the civility needed to ensure respectable discourse they need to be exposed, criticized and the abuse stopped. Tolerance is not an option. Acceptance of abuse is unacceptable. The fine threads holding this city together are frayed already, it is time to repair those threads, and begin rebuilding the decayed foundation that holds this place together. We are representatives of the city, ambassadors sent into peoples homes and neighborhoods to render assistance when things go wrong. Allowing those people to treat us with disdain is essentially allowing them to spit in the face of America. We have a retired State Police Executive running public safety in Providence. I respectfully suggest he clean up the streets and start policing this place before suggesting the EMT’s in his city grow some thick skin and allowing the criminals we are forced to treat as patients with kid gloves.… Read more »