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Rocky Mountain News Is Lying, Stanley Says
News Release - December 20, 2001
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2001 NEWS RELEASE Stanley for U.S. Senate
=========================================================== Rocky Mountain News Is Lying, Stanley Says (DENVER CO) Libertarians across Colorado are furious about the latest in a long string of outrageous lies printed by the Denver Rocky Mountain News. And the News keeps adding fuel to the fire. On Saturday, December 15, Rick Stanley, a Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate, was arrested in Denver for carrying a pistol openly at a public rally celebrating the Bill of Rights. Mr. Duncan Philp was also arrested for carrying a weapon openly at the rally. Prior to his arrest, Stanley had announced his intentions to media outlets all around Colorado. His act of civil disobedience aims to overturn Denver's ban on carrying deadly weapons anywhere within the city. On Tuesday, December 18, the News printed an outrageous lie about Mr. Stanley and Mr. Philp. A story by John C. Ensslin said "they plan to use their arrests to challenge the constitutionality of Denver's ban on carrying concealed weapons." Noted Libertarian attorney Paul Grant, who is representing both men in this case, could hardly believe his eyes. "I can't understand how this reporter could get his basic facts so wrong," said Grant. "In no way are Rick Stanley and Duncan Philp challenging Denver's concealed weapon regulations. It's hard to imagine how the reporter could be so careless. "What is being challenged is Denver's prohibition on any open carrying of a weapon in the City and County of Denver," Grant continued. "Stanley and Philp were arrested for openly carrying weapons, as public records clearly indicate. It is the prohibition on open carry that clearly violates Colorado's state constitution, since the constitution guarantees that the right to keep and bear arms in defense of self, home, and others shall not be questioned. "Colorado's constitution expressly mentions that concealed weapon carrying can be regulated, so challenging the concealed carry ban would be a complete waste of time, and stupid, to boot." Mr. Stanley's response was blunt. "The Rocky Rag is lying again," said Stanley. "They knew exactly what they were doing. They have been smearing me with their lies since my campaign began last summer. Well, I'm sick and tired, and I'm not going to take it any more. I will continue my protests against the Rocky Rag and their outrageous lies. Everyone in Colorado needs to know how the News deliberately distorts the truth by printing outright lies about me, and about the Libertarian Party." Michelle Konieczny, media director for Mr. Stanley's U.S. Senate campaign, was also incensed. "Journalists have an ethical responsibility to report the truth. Perhaps I have been naive, but I believed my high school teacher when he told me that journalists hold themselves to high standards. I believed that journalists pride themselves on speaking out against injustice, and exposing the truth. I guess I was wrong, and it breaks my heart." Disturbingly, this latest journalistic misstep at the News is just the latest in a lengthening string of falsehoods the paper has printed about Rick Stanley, and about the Libertarian Party. -- Last month the News released a wire service story implying that the Libertarians did not run a candidate in the year 2000 Congressional District 4 election. In fact, the Libertarian candidate in that race claimed over 7% of the vote. -- Last August, the News reported that there was no announced Libertarian candidate in the U.S. Senate race in Colorado. Mr. Stanley had announced his candidacy over a month earlier, and had been sending press releases to the News every day for ten days straight when this lie was printed. -- Last year, the News purposely excluded the Libertarian candidates from their Voter's Guide, and from a sample ballot, when in fact the Libertarians had fielded more candidates for state House than the Democrats had. This gigantic lie sparked a spirited public protest. The Denver weekly Westword printed an expose. The News finally acknowledged their mistake -- two months after the election was history. "Does this look like a pattern to you?" asked candidate Stanley. "The Rocky Rag keeps saying these are just 'little mistakes.' Well, I say these are not just little mistakes. They are clear and convincing evidence of the Rocky Rag's intent to keep the voters in the dark. Look at the evidence for yourself. Why does the News make these 'mistakes'' over, and over, and over again? Actions speak more loudly than words." ##30## =========================================================== For information about the Libertarian Party of Colorado please visit http://www.lpcolorado.org. For information about the Libertarian Party of America please visit http://www.lp.org |
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