Yellow Dog Journalism, The Best and Worst Lists

By Gina Parker Ford

Thirty-four years ago, Texas Monthly began publishing a bi-annual article on the “Ten Best and Ten Worst” Texas State Legislators. Political insiders in Austin and die-hard politicos across the State look forward to this review with much gusto like a blood-thirsty audience at a boxing event or a bull fight.

A comprehensive review of the 34 year history of the “Ten Best and Ten Worst List,” however, shows distinct patterns of bias and prejudice against Hispanics, Conservatives, Republicans, and Women and Black members of the Legislature.  Conservatives and Hispanics often dominate the “Worst List” and can be twice as likely to make the “Ten Worst List” as compared to the “Ten Best.”  The most likely profile of a candidate for their “Ten Best List” is a white, urban, liberal male Democrat. 

Even more disturbing are the comments made about minority legislators in the various articles over the years.  They indicate a pattern that denigrates the intellect and ethics of Hispanic and Black members, accusing them of personal prejudices far beyond those by which Anglo members were accused of. In 1973, Texas Monthly said that Rep. Lindsey Rodriguez “…actually works at being dumb….” The writer called Clay Smothers, an African American legislator from Dallas in the 1970s, “a black Archie Bunker.”  Black Rep. Lanell Cofer’s legislative activities were referred to as “monkeyshines.”  Hispanic Senator Bob Vale was described as a “parasite.” Current Black Rep. Yvonne Davis was accused of “legislative terrorism” in 2003.

The comparisons, however, against Anglo legislators who make the “Ten Worst List” in the same years can be striking.  Rep. Tim Von Dohlen was put on the 1973 “Ten Worst List,” but in his write-up he was referred to as “resourceful, hardworking and…quite intelligent.” In 1991, Ernestine Glossbrenner was described as “decent and caring.”  In the collective review of the write-ups, one gets a sense that the magazine is saying, “it didn’t have to be this way” when writing about white members and “there is virtually no hope” when writing about minority members.

The irony of all ironies is that Texas Monthly writer Paul Burka, who has written on each of the articles, endorsed Kinky Friedman for Governor last year, even though he said he didn’t approve of his (Friedman’s) racially tinged remarks.”

Often when Conservatives made the “Ten Best List,” it was for doing some rather non-conservative acts.  In 1985, Jim Rudd was praised for opposing a 2% across the board budget cut proposed by the House Conservative Caucus.  Jack Vowell was put on the “Ten Best” in 1987 for opposing cuts to welfare and AFDC spending.  Fred Hill, a repeat offender on the “Ten Worst List,” was suddenly awarded status on the “Ten Best” by Texas Monthly citing his opposition to lowering appraisal caps and implementing spending caps on local government.

Since 1989, Burka has been joined in compiling the Lists by Austin writer Patti Kilday Hart, 52, and the magazine’s editor, currently Evan Smith, 41, a New Yorker who has lived in Texas since 1992.   

Burka, Hart and Smith are all Democrats by their own words, deeds, or familial ties.  Hart and Smith have voted in the Democratic Primary in Travis County - with Hart voting in seven of the last nine Democratic primaries and Smith voting Democratic at least four times in the past decade. 

Evan Smith’s wife, Julia Null-Smith, is a Democratic Party activist who has served on the Board of Directors of the local chapter of Planned Parenthood. The Smiths also hosted a primary season gathering at their home for then-frontrunner Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean in 2003.

Paul Burka stated in 2001 that he was a “Conservative Democrat” who voted in the Republican Primary because Republican “nominees are most likely to win those (statewide) races. Burka then promptly voted in the Democratic Primary the following year.

Burka and Hart are not shy about trying to have an impact on the legislative process. For example, in 2005, Rep. Phil King’s inclusion on the “Ten Worst List” referred to his work on anti-abortion bills.  Rep. Robert Talton’s campaign against gay foster parenting was cited as the reasoning behind his “Ten Worst” designation the same year. 

Being a Christian is bad, too: Rep. Robert Talton’s inclusion on the 2003 “Ten Worst List” ridiculed his use of his Christian faith during floor debate.  Rep. Tim Von Dohlen was attacked in the “Ten Worst List” in 1973 as a Christian “zealot” who was “cut from a Crusaders Cloth.”

In a time when technology takes its toll upon the weekly news magazine and the daily newspaper, the lack of diversity demonstrated by both writers and the writing may demand that the magazine’s owners bring this longstanding work into modern day journalism which demands balance, accountability, and fairness.  Time will tell.

Click here to download the complete review.