Usually online polls are harmless bits of political trivia. Helpful to guage the interests of a large, participatory community like dailykos or myDD, but harmful when taken for more than trivia.
Today, News Channel 6 (WSDU) in New Orleans, in a cheap publicity stunt, has placed such a great and unfair weight on an online poll that freeping it is currently leading towards the silencing of the only Democratic voice in a Democratic City Council District in New Orleans.
They're dictating who they show on a candidate debate based on who wins their stupid online poll ... regardless of who has the most support.
Please, take just ten seconds to click on a link and fight back with your online vote.
Please read more.
Here's the deal:
In the City Council District A race, republican incumbent Jay Batt has repeatedly sold out the interests of neighborhoods to big business. When his constituents needed him the most, Batt's been absent from critical rebuilding issues.
Running against him are seven candidates ... but only one Democrat: Shelly Midura. http://www.shelleymiduraforcitycouncil.com/
Shelly's an inspiring, dedicated, qualified, outstanding candidate. She's a fighter, running to rebuild her city the right way - for the people and not for the payoffs which are a disgusting part of city politics. As the only Democrat in the race (the rest of Batt's challengers are republican or other), she is the clear alternative ... and second only to Batt in the money war too with enough to run a fully effective campaign.
The first candidate debate is tonight, with all eight candidates on stage.
The second debate, however, will feature the top two vote getters in the station's online poll. I can't imagine a more unfair and unrepresentative way to determine who gets half an hour of free air time.
Please help Shelly fight back against this media madness.
Just click on this link and vote for Shelly:
http://www.wdsu.com/...
This isn't just about helping an awesome candidate - it's about elections not being decided by who can click a mouse button the most.
Please, help Shelly fight back!