September 7, 2004

Small World

Today's edition of The Tennessean has a story about how the Tennessee Republican and Tennessee Democratic parties aren't giving away as much campaign paraphernalia for free as in years past. A few things in the story caught my eye. First, the paper notes that the GOP is giving away yard signs and bumper stickers, but not the Democrats, who are making hard-working, downtrodden Americans shell out $4 for a yard sign and 50 cents for a sticker. Second:

When it comes to yard signs and bumper stickers in the presidential election this year, in some cases, it'll cost you. Both parties say that because Tennessee is not considered a battleground state, the national parties are a bit stingy with the free merchandise.

And, third, among the average, ordinary people the paper quotes about having to pay for yard signs and such is one Gray Sasser, described as "a Nashville Democrat" who purchased 100 Kerry-Edwards bumper stickers on the Internet to hand out to friends. The paper mentions that Sasser is the son of former U.S. Sen. Jim Sasser. But it leaves out that Sasser was, for several years, a staff writer at the paper.