Houston Democrats

As many of you may know, I volunteer every Thursday at HCDP Headquarters. Most of the time the shift isn't too exciting, but it's a chance to be surrounded by Democrats and I can plug away on doing research for the blog or other tasks that need attention.

Today, I was in for a much bigger surprise, far more than the time when I had to inform a caller that "No, the Democratic Party does not sell chewing tobacco."

However, none of what we accomplished would have been possible without everyone's help at Headquarters.

Here's the story...

At about 1 pm, I was getting ready to go home, and was in the process of showing Ross McDonald, the afternoon volunteer, the task he would be working on. I had spent a good part of the morning calling fellow Democrats to remind them about the Real Texas Heroes event on Friday, May 6 and Ross was going to continue working on making calls. As I was in the process of showing him the names and who I had already contacted, I hear this exclamation from the next room: "Marc! Would you like to be on TV!"

I'm thinking, me?! Is this some kind of joke? Apparently not! Susan said someone named Rick Slagerman from KTRK Channel 13 called and needed a "replacement" for the Sierra Club representative. He told Susan the Sierra Club representative who had been scheduled to do the interview about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) had cancelled, and he was looking for someone to represent the opposition to drilling in ANWR. KTRK already had two other people lined up to represent the case for drilling in ANWR. However, that 'someone' had to be able to get to the KTRK studios at 3310 Bissonnet Street by 2 pm. This is despite the fact that the show will not be aired until around 11 or 11:30 am this Sunday. It seemed like a reasonable request (other than the fact it was very short notice), and most of us in the office were wondering why the Sierra Club would cancel at the last minute. I will have more to say on the supposed "cancellation" by the Sierra Club in a moment.

Just keep in mind this is all occurring at just past 1 pm, so there is less than an hour to get ready.

Susan said that because I am a young person, and because I follow environmental issues fairly well in addition to the other topics I post about here on the blog, I should be the one to go down to do the interview, if I was free to do so. Well, I had kind of planned to go back and work on a presentation for class, but the chance to be on TV kind of excited me, and a chance to speak against drilling in ANWR is not one to be turned down. So, there went any plans I may have had. I kind of replied with a dazed voice, "Sure, I'll do that. It's no problem." I'm sure I looked flabbergasted at being asked to do an interview on TV.

Susan and I talk for a little while. We considered how feasible getting to KTRK would be. I have very little experience getting around Houston since I live in Spring on the northwest side of town, so directions to KTRK were going to be crucial, and even then uncertain because directions don't always work in reality and are much harder to follow in heavy traffic.

I then called Rick Slagerman back and told him I would be willing to do the interview. Apparently he was at a bank (It sounded like a drive-through bank since I could hear a lot of background motor noises and birds chirping.) He said he would call me back in just a few minutes. While I was waiting, Phil Donovan, the afternoon office manager arrived, and in very little time unbeknownst to him, he would become a lynchpin in our operation. Susan Trapp also arrived and would play a role too.

We all set about figuring out how I am going to get ready in time to be at KTRK by the set 2 pm interview time. I start rushing to find maps and directions on the internet. I realized that I was wearing a plain green t-shirt and jeans, and that I wasn't really dressed for an interview. After all, it's not everyday I wake up and think, "You know what? I feel like wearing a suit today." Of course there are no idle suits lying around the office, and Ross and Phil are the only other guys there, and they just happened to be as careless as I was to not wear a suit today. Plus, this is the Democratic Party, if we all wanted to act like pampered millionaires, we would be Republicans. Martha Cottingham, our invaluable precinct chair organizer, offered to phone a niece in town to see if she had a blazer available. Susan thought about calling Charles Soechting's wife to see if they could lend a coat. Then, we all realized Phil Donovan lives near the KTRK studios, and he just returned from getting his delectable barbeque sandwich from the reastaurant next door. He hadn't had lunch yet.

Just then the phone rings. He is saved by the bell, for the time being anyway. It's Rick again. He thanks me for being willing to fill in at such short notice and proceeds to tell me how to get to KTRK. I ask what the format of the interview will be and what he would recommend I wear. He asked me what size jacket I wear, and of course I'm a guy, so how would I know, never mind the adrenaline rush I am getting from the fact I am supposed to do an interview on the spur of the moment. In addition, I asked what specifically the ANWR interview would be about since I wanted to read up on the issue in the little time I had. I figured I could be reasonably successful since I had majored in environmental and internationl studies in college. Rick said he really didn't want to tell me anything specific because the show, "City View," is intended to reflect the views of general citizens in our community, but he suggested I might be able to get some talking points from the Houston Chapter of the Sierra Club.

The time is now about 1:15pm, 45 minutes remaining

I told Susan the interview was a 'go,' and she asked if Rick had given me directions, but I realized I had neglected to ask for the street address. I have to say the internet is really great at finding information on a moment's notice. I hopped on the nearest computer to look for maps and directions, which weren't too hard to find. I then turn to Google to figure out the Sierra Club's Houston number since I don't have a phonebook for a brain. In exactly 0.20 seconds, I find Evelyn Merz's number. She is Sierra's Houston Group Chair.

Fortunately, she was in her office and answered immediately. I hurriedly recount our predicament, and she explains why the Sierra Club did not send someone to the interview. She was quite understandably upset, because KTRK had called her just prior to phoning Susan to ask for someone to do the interview. Furthermore, Evelyn added that this is not the first occasion the station has done this to the Sierra Club. That's when I realized what KTRK was up to.

The Sierra Club had not "cancelled" as Rick told Susan, but had declined simply as a result of a lack of time to locate and get someone to the television studios to do the interview. (We found out over the course of the afternoon that this is a very difficult thing to do.)

This sounds highly suspicious when you consider that KTRK already had two industry representatives lined up (possibly for days in advance), and the show doesn't air until this coming Sunday. It makes you wonder why today at 2pm, had to be the exact time. Nevertheless, Evelyn Merz kindly accepted my request for information about ANWR and promised she would fax it immediately.

Time: 1:30 pm, 30 minutes remaining

By this time, Phil is in the middle of enjoying his sandwich, and Susan and I set upon him, asking if he had a coat and shirt that I could borrow. He does, and we agreed that Phil would go ahead to his house to pick up the items and that I would meet him at KTRK's studios. Unfortunately, in his rush to get home, he dropped his sandwich while trying to open the office door. Sue Trapp assumed command of the office manager's desk and remained along with Ross and Martha to support Susan Gates with running the office. While waiting for Evelyn's fax to arrive, I down a quick bite to eat, part of a roast beef sandwich Sue picked up at Randalls on her way in from home.

At 1:40 pm, after what seems like an eternity, but in reality was probably only about seven minutes, Evelyn's fax arrived. She called to confirm to ensure I received both pages, and I thanked her for the help she provided under the difficult circumstances. Finally, after gathering my things I am ready to set off to KTRK.

Time: 1:44 pm, 16 minutes remaining

I turn right onto the 610 Loop feeder, right onto Durham Street, right on Kirby, and then another right onto Bissonnet. The traffic was fairly heavy but at least it never got too congested. I finally see the aerial antenna of KTRK come into view at 2:14 pm. Under the circumstances, being only 14 minutes late was pretty good. KTRK probably didn't expect anyone to be able to show up anyway. Phil was waiting in the main lobby with a pressed shirt and coat. I quickly dressed in the lobby while the secretary and security guard watched me, talk about entertainment (It must have been a dull afternoon).

Once I finished, the security guard escorted me through to the studio where Art Rascon was already in the midst of interviewing the staunch oil industry supporter (I don't remember his name or the oil company he represents, but it is one based in Houston). I am told to wait at the back of the room until Art Rascon is through interviewing him.

After about 40 or 50 seconds, the segment is completed, and they go on commercial break. Then Rascon said he still had another segment to do with the industry representative, following some taped footage of Rascon in Alaska. There was a series of shots showing all the good things that corporations are doing while Rascon narrates that these villagers want the corporations there to drill oil because they want new schools and more business, etc., etc.... (Nothing was mentioned about what will happen when all the oil is depleted and the corporations leave.)

The interview begins:

Once the footage ends, Rascon began questioning the oil industry representative, which took another 40 to 50 seconds. All this time the industry supporter was the only other person on stage with Rascon, receiving ample time to make his points and to spout the corporate mantra the big oil companies expound upon incessantly.

I should mention that in addition to the oil industry representative I've already mentioned, KTRK invited another energy industry representative from Energy Magazine, which the man told me is a publication that represents an array of energy corporations, both fossil fuel based ones and renewable energy companies. I discovered after I returned home that it is produced by Business Communications Strategy, Inc.

Quite honestly, it was very hard to figure out his position at first. He kept agreeing that I raised significant points, but kept disagreeing with the information I stated. I came to the conclusion he is more middle of the road than the oil industry representative, but still inclined towards the oil industry. I represented the sole person in opposition to drilling in ANWR. If I had not been able to show up, no one would have been available to support the environmental cause. Art Rascon probably would have made some remark about having offered environmentalists a chance to speak, but that they declined the interview.

Once the segment was completed, Rascon summoned me to sit across from him on stage. The other individual being interviewed came up as well and sat between us. One of the technicians set me up with a microphone during another segment of pre-filmed footage in Alaska. This time you saw the frozen tundra, covered in thick ice and snow as a herd of caribou runs across it. You hear Rascon narrating that a Native Indian is having trouble meeting his catch of caribou for the year in order to make leather goods to sell, so he can feed his family. Only briefly, for a period of about 10 seconds, does Rascon spend time interviewing a lone Gwichin Indian who opposes drilling in ANWR. Then the segment breaks away to another commercial break, during which time Rascon explains how the interview will work.

Rascon would open the segment by saying something to the effect, "Many people are against drilling in ANWR. With us here today is Marc Olivier, Environmental Specialist for the Harris County Democratic Party, and the other guy's name." Thus, I discovered that those titles displayed on screen can be trumped up as well. While being relatively knowlegeable about environmental issues, I don't see myself as a 'specialist.' Rascon added there would be only one take (or filming) for us to have our say. So, despite the fact that the interview is being taped on a Thursday and is going to be broadcast on Sunday, the director did not allow the possibility for a second take if we made any mistakes. It was as if we were doing the show live.

Rascon said he would address his first question to me and then alternate between the two of us. However, by setting up the interview this way, the Energy Magazine representative always had the opportunity to rebut anything I said. I never had an opportunity, not once, to specifically reply to his statements. Plus, we were told to keep our statements as short as possible because there wasn't much time left in the story for our interview. Of course here I am, I had just seen the oil industry representative have two full segments for a combined total of at least two minutes, maybe more, I can't say since I was still just trying to get there. Furthermore, from what the Energy Magazine representative said to Art Rascon, it seemed like he had already participated in an earlier segment, probably about 40 to 50 seconds in length. I guess we'll find out about that on Sunday. Clearly, you can see the case was stacked against me and the oppposition to drilling in ANWR.

Throughout the two segments in which the Energy Magazine representative and I were a part, I probably only had Art Rascon's attention for about a total 30 seconds, maybe 40 seconds. (It's really hard to judge time when you're being filmed. It seemed like it was longer during the filming, but I can't imagine it was much more than that.) Unlike the staunch oil industry supporter, our time was divided in half, or even less when you consider that Rascon asked us more questions per unit of time than when he interviewed the industry representative.

Of course, I realized during the interview that by making me jump through the numerous hoops to get ready on such short notice that my adrenaline was pumping the whole time. As a result, I was somewhat off my footing when it came to giving quick, concise, and powerful answers. While I did not hesitate in response to any questions, the short time format and my adrenaline rush meant I was not able to give the most effective responses possible.

I had many, many things I wanted to say in response to the oil industry representative, the Energy Magazine representative, and the previously prepared footage, but I never had the opportunity. During the breaks I was thinking about everything I could say and realizing there would be only a minuscule amount of time in which to express my thoughts. Rascon basically steered my response to his questions to some degree by phrasing his question in a manner that fairly obviously favors the oil industry.

Evidence of bias:

To give an example of his bias, after the first segment of the three of us were on stage. All of a sudden Rascon decides he is going to change the next segment title. He announces that it will be called, "Corporations provide millions in revenue to Indians," or something very close to that. I noticed he had his talking points on the table in front of him and I was able to read the original title as he scratched it out. I think he saw me, but I didn't care. I understood what he was doing. By the way, the original segment title was something like "Native Indians depend upon the environment to survive." Ok, you tell me what you think he was trying to accomplish by changing the title. Obviously, one is phrased in a manner that heavily favors big oil corporations, and paints them in a favorable light.

An example of the Energy Magazine representative's rebuttal to one of my statements is the following. Rascon asked me something about the rising cost of oil and what do I have to say about that? I respond that in England where I lived for three years, the British pay the equivalent of $2 to $3 dollars per liter of gasoline (a liter is roughly about one-fourth of a gallon), which means per gallon the British pay at least $12. I continued by stating that we have the cheapest gas in the world and some of the cheapest in the United States since people in Hawaii are paying over $3 per gallon. The prices we are paying now are only going to increase and that it was ridiculous to have people driving Hummers that only get 8 miles per gallon. The Energy Magazine representative retorts with the fact that in England three-fifths of the total cost of gasoline is taxes and then goes off about how I raised an important point and that there needs to be more people like me who support the environment etc., etc.... You get the idea. He said stuff that is true, but distorts the intention of what I said, while saying flowery things about me, but really he opposed my statement.

During the break between the two segments, he even asked Rascon for a chance to rebut one of the details I said, and Rascon nodded his approval. Rascon then chided us for taking so long with our comments because there wasn't much time left in the segment. Of course he did not give us much time to begin with.

The Energy Magazine representative then turned to me and said that he agreed with much of what I said, and that Congress had passed some legislation to benefit renewable energy companies in the recent energy bill. I concede that statement is probably true, but the oil companies got a heck of a lot more help than renewable companies did. I responded to his comments that the gas mileage standards for passenger vehicles have not been increased since 1975 or 1977, during the last oil crisis, and that we could accomplish significant reductions in our fuel consumption by just improving the efficiency of our cars with technology already available on the market. I went on saying my 1991 Honda Accord gets better gas mileage than most of today's vehicles. Oh, I wished the cameras were rolling for that, but alas they weren't, and I never had a chance to make the point on air. Rascon cracked a thin smile when I mentioned the Honda Accord example, but I wasn't sure if he was smiling in agreement or because I drive a 14-year old car. The Energy Magazine representative was trying to console me by saying that oil companies are doing what they can to prevent pollution, etc., etc.... His overly comforting, talk-down tone made it pretty apparent to me what he believed.

Specifically, he wanted to respond to the fact I mentioned that Tom DeLay and Joe Barton who are both from Texas (They are the ones primarily responsible for ramming the energy bill through the House, and Joe Barton is Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce) pushed the latest energy bill over the objections of Democrats who wanted to implement more incentives for renewable and alternate forms of energy. I added that the one-time tax break for the purchase of new hybrid vehicles is going to drop from $2,000 this year to just $500 in 2006, which will be a huge disincentive to the environmentally conscientious individuals who would like to purchase those vehicles.

I don't remember exactly how it all wrapped up, but the interview didn't last much longer. In summary, I had spent nearly an hour and twenty minutes to get to KTRK's studios for a total of only about 40 seconds of on air time in which to respond only to Art Rascon's loaded questions and not the other representative being interviewed.

Now, do you think that I, the Harris County Democratic Party, and the Sierra Club were given a good deal? You may insert your response [here] (Add expletives if you feel they are necessary).

If you believe we got a bum rap, here is the address of KTRK Channel 13 News studios in Houston and their phone number.

Write in or call them to explain we all deserve fair reporting and equal opportunity to hear the representatives being interviewed express their facts and views on the issue, not to be superficially glossed over by a biased anchor person. (It would probably be a good idea to hold comments until after the program airs Sunday)

KTRK Channel 13 News, "City View: The Community as a Whole," 3310 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77005, Phone: 713-666-0713

I would say that in our favor, most of those who agree with drilling in ANWR are most likely to be those who will be attending church Sunday during the airing time (around 11 to 11:30 am). Therefore, they are likely to never know any of it ever happened.

I would also like to add that this experience was a very good first-hand look at our "liberal" media, one I have never experienced before, but has been very educational for me. I never thought much about what individuals are put through to get to a television studio on time for an interview. I had always had a fairly good regard for the job KTRK has done in the past, but today has changed my opinion of their news reporting in a very negative way.

I also would like to thank the following people:

Evelyn Merz the Houston Group Chair of the Sierra Club for providing valuable talking points on immediate demand;

Phil Donovan for dropping everything, including his sandwich, to run to his house so that I could look decent on camera;

Ross McDonald for assuming the position of acting office manager for the afternoon shift and taking phone calls as we rushed to get ready;

Sue Trapp for staying at HCDP headquarters the entire afternoon when she wasn't scheduled to in order to help run the office;

Martha Cottingham for her part in helping track down clothes; and

Susan Gates for generally just being a great Executive Chair who is always willing to give her time, to motivate us, and to do whatever it takes to get things done for Democrats (and I should say for people in general).

No matter how seemingly insignificant the task these people did today, there would have been no way, and I mean NO way that we could have succeeded on such short notice without each person's individual contribution. I don't wish to show myself in some kind of righteous, self-gratifying light. I am not particularly more qualified than anyone else, but instead just at the right place at the right time and willing to do whatever I could with the resources available, supported by a very capable team of committed Democrats to promote our common cause. Through all of us working as a team, we were able to push back against the biased media, even if it was only a little part on our hometurf that won't get any attention outside the city limits.

Clearly, you can see what we are up against in the world of the alleged "liberal" media, and what each of us must do:

We must present a united front to counter the disinformation that the 'yappers' propagate profusely in society today. Everyone deserves a chance to be heard and to voice their own views -- the community as a WHOLE.

I now call upon each of you to show KTRK what you think of their underhanded reporting tactics (It is probably a good idea to watch the interview and to call in after it airs Sunday).

KTRK Channel 13 News, "City View: The Community as a Whole", 3310 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77005, Phone: 713-666-0713

Then go to the HCDP web site and help support the efforts of OUR Democratic Party, The Party for the People.

(Jaybird, I agree with you. John Edwards' term is certainly a keeper and a great imagery word. Please be sure to add the appropriate Carolinian accent.)