Christopher Ruddy
Wednesday, March 6, 2002

When I turned on the TV at 7 a.m. today to hear the news, I thought the results of the California governor's race would be a lead news item – perhaps the second or third story after the war reports.

But no. I flipped quickly through the channels hoping to find something, but nothing on CNN or MSNBC, and then I clicked to the big networks.

Most of the networks were carrying the story about Condit's loss. Fair enough.

But what about the upset win of political newcomer Bill Simon against presumed winner, former Los Angeles Mayor Dick Riordan, in the hotly contested Republican primary for governor?

Finally, both NBC and CBS ended their news reports, "And in another key race ...," mentioning, briefly, Simon's win. CBS didn't even bother to show a photo. NBC showed a soundless clip of Simon at his victory party last night. That was it.

The California governor's race has been a national story for months now. The New York Times had even given it front-page coverage.

But now that the race is settled and the result is clear, the big media would prefer to put this one behind us.

The fair headline from this story should be: "California Republicans Soundly Reject Liberal Candidate."

But I guarantee you will never see that on the cover of any major paper.

Had Riordan won, you can bet the covers of papers like the Times would have blazed: "California Republicans Reject Well-Financed Conservative, Want Party to Move to Center."

So again we see another example of what Bernard Goldberg calls "Bias." Bias is not only slanting the news; it's also downplaying stories that don't fit the liberal agenda and trumpeting those that do.

Despite the media blackout, the result of the California race is heartening.

It proves that the Reagan wing of the Republican Party still dominates. Republicans know that Simon will have a tough row ahead.

But they also know it's self-defeating to elect a Republican like Riordan who makes no excuse for his liberal views and his support of Democratic candidates.

Last week, Mike Reagan and I were chatting about the California race.

Mike noted that not since his father left office in 1988 has there been anyone to take the Reagan mantle and lead the party in California.

This may now be Mr. Simon's role.

Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
California Governors Race

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