Inky Slop

by: deciminyan

Sun Oct 30, 2011 at 07:59:56 PM EDT

Imagine my surprise when I read this morning’s Inquirer to learn that the district I live in is “left-leaning.”

How did this reporter come to this conclusion?

Certainly it can’t be the fact that we perennially elect Republican Diane Allen to the state senate. While once touted as a “moderate” Republican, Allen has put political expediency ahead of doing what’s right by joining Governor Christie in his war on women’s health care.

Certainly it can’t be the fact that we perennially elect Democratic Assemblyman Herb Conaway, who voted with the Governor’s politburo to strip collective bargaining rights from public workers.

Certainly it can’t be due to redistricting which took blue-collar Pennsauken out of the district and replaced it with Moorestown, where electing a Democrat occurs less often than appearances of Halley’s Comet.

Just because a district elects Democrats to some offices does not make it "left-leaning." 

The Inquirer’s reporting on the races is detailed and informative. But throwing around terms like “left–leaning” for this Burlington County district that elects Republicans and Conservadems is just sloppy reporting.