End of debate signals beginning of spin contest WIt’s one more chance for the candidates to influence the news coverage of the event. By STEPHEN BUTTRY Like most sequels, it didn't live up to the original. ‘Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the ‘campaign front-runner, didn't bother to show up in the media room to Arizona Sen, “John McCain exchanged barbs about their tax plans in Debate I, a Bush alde made “A Loophole or a New Tax on Working People?” asked the Bush release, passed out to reporters a8 ‘they watched and listened to candi- dates on television monitors. The post-debate debate has become so routine that TV crews began setting up. cameras and microphones at the front of the media room as candidates made their closing statements on the ‘monitors. Raft of Releases Candidate aldes came, in with more press releases. McCain's release answered Bush's shot about his tax plan. Steve Forbes’ campaign, Those In the audience for the apparently with nothing new to say on the matter, distributed a Thurs- day release calling Bush and McCain “timid twins on taxes." With the microphone for candi- dates standing near the doorway, reporters and campaign staffers and ‘supporters soon clogged the entry. Forbes was the first candidate to make it through the crush to the microphones. He introduced two ‘members ofthe Texas State Board of Education who were endorsing him decause of their disappointment ‘with Bush's performance, ‘Nibbling From Below In the spin room food chain, each ‘candidate nibbles at those above him in the polls. Bush, as the leader, stayed away. Forbes, running sec- ‘ond in lowa, fired at Bush's “trickle- down tax cut” in Texas. Gary Bauer was next, accompa- nied by his family. Stuck in the elus- ter of candidates behind Forbes, he blasted Forbes’ tax plan and ques- ‘campaign. ‘MeCain, trailing in Towa, is locked in a tight race with Bush in New Hampshire. He dismissed Bush’s widespread support among ‘GARY FANDEL/Tie Recisrex Republican candidates’ contest included former Iowa Govs. Robert Ray, center, with wife Billie at his side, and Terry Branstad, far left. Republican officeholders: “He's got all the generals and admirals. 've got the privates and corporals.” ‘Alan Keyes brought the father of an ailing child to the microphone, repeating a point he had made dur- ing the debate. ‘Though reporters listened to the candidates, 50 they wouldn't mics nese ae eee ‘nae RrahEnvironmental protester Aree ‘BOB NANDELLTut ReaisreR Sean Rock of Oskaloosa wears a giant chipmunk suit to attract the attention of voters and make his statement. Special-interest groups clamor for attention By STEPHEN BUTTRY Reeasren Stare WisTER and Towans are for a lot of things, judging from the groups trying to get their atten- tion these days. Sensible priorities. A sound economy. A land-mine ban. About the only group not campaigning forthe attention of voters, presidential candidates and the media is, Towans for a Break from Politics. Since the 1970s, political candidates have regularly i reporters in Iowa, like a noisy species of four-year ocusts. This year, more than ever before, another noise has joined the clamor: special-interest groups trumpeting their pet causes. “This is presidential politics,” said Jody ‘Williams of Vermont. “We want to elevate INTERESTS Turn co Page 3M‘Tae Des Mouses REGISTER ll Monbay, Javuary 17, 2000 3M Ciry_& SUBURBS Interest groups seek attention INTERESTS (Continued from Page IM ‘ages visible group activity,” said The s sie Sten 2008 Bosc peut CAUCUS Sea? gt og tools a costumes, voter guides, cookies infatable feons, Web sites, ‘yard signs, advertisements and cam: Dalgniteratare: #"They seek the support of presi- etal cana PoBNaNDELTIE eae se cee, the support of Towa M.L. Lindon, also known as the “Cookie Lady,” uses her hockey-puck hard cookies as a protest Jan cuucaes teed fice Against Pentagon waste. Linden is active in the group, lowans for Sensible Priorities. 2 contributions, through continuing involvement and through their votes. The Des Moines Register debate for disappear soon. “We will be around ‘© They seek the attention of the Democratic candidates, a staff through the caucuses," Kanellos ‘reporters who follow the candidates. member dressed up 3s a cow to ep- sald. Then i's on to New Hampehive, “The candidates won't move with- resent the “sacred cow" of Pentagon Iowa Citizens for a Sound Beono- utthe publicopinion, andthepublic spending. Outside Saturday's my, afllated with a" Ioyearald pinion is reflected in the media” Republican debate, two pigs repre-_ national group Tormed to promote said MAL. Lindon of Des Moines, bel- senting military ‘contractors, free enterprise, opened its office last ter known to the candidates she crawled into a bed with pillows fall but plans to work in local and shadows asthe “Cookie Lady.” bearing photographs ofthe Republi. state alfairs after the caucuses. Lindon, wearing an apron and car- can candidates. “We're here to stay,” said state tying a basket of cookies, hits the “Because the groups want to be director Jason Gross, caucus campaign trail regularly with taken seriously, they try to walk a This week, the three-person lowa one of the most visible special- fine line in using gimmicks to gain staf has lots of help fom staf? Interest groups, lowans for Sensible attention. “I was concemed with members and. activists” from Priorities ‘What kind of stunts we were doing,” throughout the country. “They want ‘The lows group is affliated with said Dia Kanelos, communications to.be part ofthe lowa caucus expe. Business Leaders for SensiblePriori- manager for Iowans for Sensible rience” Gross sad, ties, headed by ice cream mogul Ben Priorities. “That's the only way we Other inlerest groups are fixtures Cohen of Ben & Jeny’s. The groupis could really get heard in’ the in national politic, joining tie lows calling on candidates to pledge to.cut beginning” fray so thelr issues remain promi military spending by 15 percent and Towa Citizens for a Sound Econ- nent. Thomas ‘Reardon, president of shift the money info such areas as omy uses a college student dressed the American Medical Reeociston, education and health care. 1s a shark to symbolize its push for will be in town ths week. The AARP Lindon's cookies make the point. tort reform, is distributing voter guides to 9,000 Printed on the frosting is apie chart “The “Federation for American kely caucus partcpants, outlining depicting federal discretionary Immigration ‘Reform and. similar candidates views on auch leaves 2 spending, with tiny slices for educa- groups are not visible at campaign Social Security and Medicare ton, human services and agriculture falles, but createdastir witha series fran a tafetan shel ncgt tetaner risa Serer reeiiietiemrnmane sete hier heres MEUM ERS jumor to attract attention. Outside cally for the caucus season and will ‘buatrye@news.cinreg.comn‘SA Dis Moines Suvpay RecisreR JANUARY 9, 2000, THE =| Cornell West talks with Karenna Gore Schiff, daughter of presidential candidate Al Gore, before the start of Saturday's debate ‘between Al Gore and Bill Bradley. pavip PETERSON Recisex *CAUCUS* LisTENING IN DOUG WELLA/THE Recisren Audience members listen as candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination field questions from Iowans and quiz each other on issues. Outside, chants and cheers, signs and slogans © The raucous mood was rm the military to education and Weal care, tin contrast to the dignity “Swanson was hoisted onto a of the debate inside. ‘mobile platform by a couple of peo- ple wearing Tshirts pi By STEPHEN BUTTRY them to be “sensible Iowans.” Then fvcasren S967 Waren two men wearing masks of the can- didates' faces carried her about the Johnston, Ia. — A woman came grounds. ‘dressed as ‘a cow. A man came _ Demonstrators supporting candi- dressed as an ear of com. A dance dates and causes gathered outside president's supporters. “Two, four, six, elght, who. we gonna nominate? Bradley! Bradley! Bradley!” answered the former New Jersey senator's crowd, without the help of uniformed cheerleaders. “Invest in kids, not Pentagon waste!” shouted Iowans for Sensible poe ‘At one point some people from the Sensible Priorities group started ‘SPECIAL INTERESTS: The 2000 caucuses are luring ‘Specialinterest groups in addition to candidates to lowa. Here's a look at some of the groups represented at the protest site outside Saturday's debates: lowans for Sensible Priorities ‘Action Ozone lowans to Ban Land Mines and mines. Bradley is the only candidate who has said he would sign the interna- tional treaty outlawing land mines, Williams said. ‘She was joined by several mem- bers of Iowans to Ban Land Mines, carrying signs to advance their cause. Laura Robinson of Valley High School in West Des Moines to put forth a concrete plan,” sald Kim DeFeo of Des Moines: She cited ‘scientific projection thai the aver- age global temperature could rise 4 deen, bringing 325 percent érop ineom je “Don't pop our crop,” pleaded one ofthe Ozone Action sens. The crowd included paid stat members. of the campaigns and Interest groups as well as local andJowa is a corn rny cliche in visitors’ reporting Swine, soybeans got plenty of ink and air time, but some reporters did look past agriculture. BY STEPHEN BUTTRY “ Resist Sve Wt In case you were worried, the rest of the nation now ows agriculture is important tolowa Americans may be a litle less clear about how well edu. cated Iowans are, Except for readers of the Los Angeles Times, the fact that Iowa has the nation’s fifth-highest high school graduation rate appears to have escaped notice Our 15 minutes of fame are up. Reporters and camera crews are trudging around | New Hampshire as you read | this, Barring disasier, they won't return to Towa until the next caucuses —in 2004, So what did viewers and readers lear about the Hawk- eye State from the news medi hhorde that followed the candi- date horde around in recent weeks and months? Our com, hogs and soybeans {ot plenty of ink and air time, ‘of course, but more on that lat: et. Some reporters did. look past agriculture to tell more about our state, For instance, Patrick Beach, 4 former Des Moines Register Teporter now with the Austin American-Statesman, told ‘Texas readers that lowa “con- sumes enormous quantities of 4Jel-0 and methamphetamines, though usually not at the same gatherings.” j A , 2 2 Boston Globe reporter NOB NANDELLZTi Ke Fane Baty Sranbeer of Event Services Inc. cleans up Tuesday at the Tourisen Build IMAGE Turn co Poge AR a the State Fairgrounds, site ofthe AI Gore celebration the night betore,“e'sowa Was hog heaven for political junkies IMAGE Republican caucus results Hore are unoficial results of Monday's Republican caucuses. Party See ome officials declined to say when they will be able to provide. complete returns, Curtis Wilkie referred to Iowa 2s vote Tora yore Fora. “stolid.” Since we're so educated, we ‘George W Busi 352317 a1 don't need dictionaries to know that Stove Forts 6108 0% — ‘word comes from the Latin statidus, Aan Keyes 12.268 14% meaning “dull” or “stupid.” Lexis-Nexis, a commercial data Gary Bauer pase that includes articles from most son ccan iafor publications and trariscripts ‘Orpn Hatch from news networks, makes it pos- eCOeaae vi sara =a at she enuthow ma tines bet nth the pes owe ae Sie wppeaintcsaneSoy a word of pss mah conta Gy ae hogs Go oe Seer tt Star) ol Hany ste cons al ne =~ ce Seis ican Hote ore | (eeu Financial Times of London referring a tour-neerentg cont Daten Latest mortrmaniuer | eld road mre an the visiting media than the balmy eae ‘weather that prevailed for most of the campaign. National Public ct Radio's Elizabeth Amold told. of “snow blowing sideways.” elise es Eh Richard Berke of the New York ‘Times, apparently not a RAGBRAI veteran, told about candidates scat- % nae loon ciamuands floway | Democratic caucus results daly greed NS coe ee erat | AS rr elas laa BRRERCsgFa covering Orrin Hatch's campaign, | fale dectne to say when they wil beable o prowde comple x | fetus. The party records delegates candidates won, not the umber upped about trouble in River ity. | tums. The party records deepal (The Boston Globe's David Shrib- fan, writing about the state's his- | f€Y__VoTE 1m tory and culture, did credit us with campioare wae MLA! Gore Meredith Wilson and “The Music | SONI itY 6 as Man.”) Only George Stephanopoulos | geuares’ SE BI Bad of ABC and Cragg Hines of the ~ Houston Chronicle referred to Madi son County's bridges, No one asked Af this was heaven, though Bob von ry eh Stemberg of the Minneapolis Star ee Tribune noted that political junkies a i were in hog heaven Hogs did get plenty of slop in the media coverage, (This story, like ih many about the caucuses, does : : Sony retum again and again to agricul see wat ty Towa has more hogs than people ate ‘hasn't been paying attention. Many see stories took note of the controver- ses over corporate hog farms, Only Lars-Erik Nelson ofthe New York Daily News tied the Pork Ne res real ven tothe caucuses Whether a story was about agrt- culture or not, reporters frequently opted for rural setings. Peter Marks of the New York Times called Red Oak a weleoming ite town doled | w ON THE WEB: Internet Inks —agricature question thrown at him with Vietorian houses and ringed by | fo many of the stores CNN'S Prank SonovEATERSTA cornfields and cattie farms.” mentioned here can be found yicce enue trace ye qThat story noted that The Des | in the Web version of this ‘saying: “Candidates in the corn. We'll oines "Register me | story, avaiable at aan aoe me | wew.dmregister.com/news have an update on the Democratic race in Iowa and the expectations “The joke around here is no one sees game there.” Yeah, the com is nearly ‘SOURCE: Associates Press ‘Te Rue ‘Outcome nt determined ‘SOURCE Associsted Press Thy Racist 4 reporter from the Register unless shoulder-high by Jan. 10, {heres bad news, the Times quoted. He ikened the caucuses to a°Ma_"s Doce udioee ari Washingion Jan Castle Renander, editor of the fia protection tacket = Post wrote: “Though it is far too Oni Sea Nee Parner thes Gail Collins of the New York carly in tis stow 4 be iarsmece tice George Wort Times reports Times argued tht lowa is so unsep- froren bull seer le uso oese we Heer ee CNeesintown. | resentative that the caucuses now, that Al Gote hor Sade oieen erent of CNN's “Capital Gang,” shouldn't matter, If January cau very’ imprective offerte ese however, included the Register cuses can't be abolished altogether, tneienenenstrom news networks, makes it pos- sible to count how many times in the past month the phrase “Iowa cau- ‘cuses” appears in the same story asa word or phrase such as cornfields (11), barns (26), hogs (82) or "Des ‘Moines Art Center” (zero) ‘Many stories combine rural imag- es, such as Richard Wolffe of the Financial Times of London referring. to our “neverending comfields and ig farms.” Last week’s snowstorm and bitter cold received more attention from the visiting media than the balmy weather that prevailed for most of the campaign. National Public Radio's Elizabeth Amold told of “snow blowing sideways.” Richard Berke of the New York ‘Times, apparently not a RAGBRAI veteran, told? about candidates sedi tering “across the flatiands of Iowa.” Some Iowa cliches were merci fully ignored. No one, not even those covering Orrin Hatch's campaign, quipped about trouble In River City (The Boston Globe's David Shrib- ‘man, writing about the state's hi (ory and culture, did credit us with Meredith Willson and “The Music Man.") Only George Stephanopoulos of ABC and Cragg Hines of the Houston Chronicle referred to Madi- son County's bridges. No one asked i this was heaven, though Bob von Stemberg of the Minneapolis Star Tribune noted that political junkies were in hog heaven. Hogs did get plenty of slop in the media coverage. (This story, like matty about the caucuses, | doi relurn again and again to agricul- ture.) Anyone who doesn't know Towa has more hogs than people hasn't been paying attention, Many stories took note of the controver- sies over corporate hog farms. Only Lars-Erik Nelson of the New York Daily News tied the Pork Queen to the caucuses, Whether a story was about agri- culture or not, reporters frequently opted for rural settings. Peter Marks of the New York Times called Red Oak a “welcoming little town dotted with Victorian houses and ringed by | cornfields and cattle farms." i ‘That story noted that ‘The Des Moines Register stopped home delivery in Red Oak a few years ago, “The joke around here is no one sees a reporter from the Register unless (Outcome not determined SOURCE: Assorted Prose Tuy Rear Democratic caucus results Here are unoticialresylts of Monday's Democratic caucuses. Party Officials dectine to say wn they wil be able to provide complete returns. The party fecords del. ga es candidates won, not the number of votes each candidate received. SOURCE Acsocsed “To RraasteR BON THE WEB: Internet links agriculture question thrown at him.” to many of the stories ‘@ CNN's Frank Sesno led into a mentioned here can De found icce on the caucus campaign by in the Web version of ‘his, ining. Candidaséa la tas eee Wel story, available at: ae ame hee won. eom/news —!s€ an update on the Democratic aaaSiemligtncitgr a recs LT loos ea tar coectaicay same there.” Yeah the com is nearly shoulder high by Jan, 10. Tes cand news: the Times quoted He likened the caueuses 0 4°Ma-'» Lana Milbank the Washingson Jan Castle Renander, editor of the fa protectioi rack wrote: “Though it is far too Fell Ga Cepress. Ouch And they Gail Collins of the New York early inthis slory to be dlscussing only see a New York Times reporter ies argued that lowa is so unsep- frozen bull semen, let us just say, oF when George W. Bushisintown, | resentative that the caucuses now, that Al Gore has sande wore ‘Al Hunt of CNN's “Cepital Gang.” shoulda’ matter. If January cau very impressive elforts te Beftong however, included the Register cuses can't be abolished altogether the lowe farmer among the state's “great institu- She sai the tions,” along with the universities 1h ation should “roiaie Milbank mentioned the butter cow ng est amon all he ai the Towa State Fair and Albert the ang *Michael Gartner's Des Moines large, rather emply states that oth Bull x Audubon and explained to hie Cubs” Thanks, AL And, by the way, erwise have to be flooded out to get “city slicker” readers that GMOs ae they're the Iowa Cubs.) notice genetically modified organisms. Maria La Ganga ofthe Lov Angeles Shribman’s story an the Boston “The Post sory dl cecelade with a Times wrote perhaps the most Globe countered. “Iowa usa physi- ona fide, and relevant, ators sheet detailed of several stories about how ca shape much kc America's — pull semen and tle sles preclneers Jowa's economy has diversified and an outlook iuch like the (uthen, Albext Gone Se beyond its traditional reliance on country's It was November 1965 when Max agriculture. In addition to the high Reporters frequently noted sev Mugge and his father, of Cherokee, Graduation rate, she noted that eral facts that are well known to Jowa, entered into an, ageomen Grime, cost of living and car insur- Iowans: the hish percentage of with he elder Al Gore. ‘We ended op ance rates are comparatively low. | senior citizens, the ny shoge of mil- with a bull together: says: Mugge Dozens of reports took note of the itary spending, the efforts to add sno still has the papers: The Gores state's increasing ethnic diversity, value 10 agricultural proses Kept the bull on their farm. in many of them prompted by anti Whatever other buses they Canhage, Tenn, and sent tae dine ‘munigration ads running in lowa, touched, most repurts «salt some- ends to the Mugges in lowe, frcaen Others focused onthe state's lack how with agricultute. often at the and packed in gad nitrogen of diversity. "Itis difficult to imagine very beginnini: “We got the semen,’ Max Mugge a state less representative of the ‘@ Sandra Sobieraj of The Associ: says, contemporary US. electorate than ated Press opencd astory:“His shiny “And Gore wil get his vote Iowa,” Gary Geinel, [owa communi- hi