The Gazette cannot be trusted

Note: A video of the Aug. 21 Pints & Politics can be found here.

On Aug. 21, The Gazette hosted its latest “Pints & Politics” event in Cedar Rapids. For those who weren’t there or haven't listened to the replay, let’s be clear: this was not an evening of open dialogue or balanced discussion. It was, in effect, a campaign rally for Democrat gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand.

Sand was given over a half-hour to deliver what was undeniably a candidate stump speech. Sand’s Facebook post after the event says as much! The Gazette promoted this as a community forum with the state auditor. In reality, it was partisan theater disguised as journalism.

This is precisely why so many Eastern Iowans no longer trust The Gazette. It’s why subscriptions have declined. It’s why our candidates — Republican candidates — think twice before answering editorial board questionnaires or participating in candidate surveys. Because time and again, the newspaper proves its bias through actions like this.

And let’s be clear: Republicans aren’t asking to be invited to an event like Pints & Politics. Why would we? The crowd was almost entirely Democrat, which didn’t happen by accident. The Pints & Politics audience has been cultivated over years of biased coverage and editorial favoritism. And if The Gazette claims it is just giving readers what they're asking for, then it should be honest about what it has become. Stop pretending to be a neutral community paper and admit it: you’ve become partisan actors.

What makes this all the more insulting is The Gazette’s own organizational statement: “We look to work with our audience to build trust in our newsroom, respond to concerns among Iowans … Along the way, we want to hear from you about how we’re doing.” Yet instead of building trust through fair and unbiased forums, they delivered a politically lopsided event that pushes half the community further away. So this is what The Gazette will hear from us: you have failed.

The Gazette may wonder why Republicans don’t see it as an honest broker. But after episodes like the recent Pints & Politics, the answer is obvious. When you use your platform to elevate one party while looking down your nose at the other, you’re no longer acting as a newspaper of record — you’re acting as a political ally.

Iowans deserve a press that holds itself to higher standards. We deserve a newspaper that serves every corner of this community — not just one political faction. Until then, editors of The Gazette shouldn't ask why Republicans are skeptical of your coverage. The reasons are staring you right in the face.

Tim Busch is Benton County Republican chair; Edward "Bernie" Hayes is Linn County Republican chair; Teresa Bumgarner is Johnson County Republican chair; Buckley Necker is Buchanan County Republican chair and Michael Duncomb is Jones County Republican chair.