A May 30 profile of 11th district congressional candidate Marty Ozinga in The Daily Journal devoted nearly 1,800 words to the candidate's religious affiliation. The article noted that he's of Dutch Calvinist stock and attends an interdenominational church. It classified him as a "Conservative Christian" and highlighted his business background and involvement with religious charities.
But at no point did the Journal discuss a single substantive policy matter. The profile didn't touch on Ozinga's apparent desire to weaken Illinois worker protections (something we covered here), or his positions on health care (anti-universal coverage), reproductive choice (against, of course), Iraq, or any other issue
Instead, the Journal crossed the line into breathless cheerleading by painting Ozinga's political aspirations as simply a noble extension of his Christian altruism.
Even Ozinga's involvement in the controversial "Metro Mix" cement company is portrayed as a "charitable work" that did not go "as planned." If you recall, some who worked with Ozinga in Metro Mix alleged it was an attempt to create a front company that could circumvent Chicago's minority-owned business quotas. You won't learn that from the Journal piece, however, which simply quoted Ozinga saying, "[W]e were probably too creative."
Likewise there is zero mention of Ozinga's current legal troubles involving a land deal in Marshall County,. As we've reported, Ozinga's sworn statements in the case have been contradicted by five witnesses.
Apparently, stories like these just didn't jive with the Journal's man-of-God narrative.
Post new comment