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2004 US Presidential Election
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November 02, 2004
Iowa | Not-so-smart Move

Posted by Buster - InMuscatine.com

From KCRG TV, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

(Full disclosure : Steve Soboroff used to go by the “on-air” name of Steve Bridges at KWPC-AM/KFMH-FM in Muscatine, Iowa. He was also manager/part owner of those stations, and is no stranger to controversy. Further, calling Steve “popular” is a stretch. He is owner of KCJJ, a low-power AM station.)

An Eastern Iowa radio station has come under fire for a DJ’s comment about when Iowans should head to the polls. The DJ insists it was just a joke, but the Republican Party isn’t laughing.

Popular disc jockey Steve Soboroff, know as “Captain Steve” to his loyal listeners at KCJJ in Iowa City, never dreamed his little joke would get this far. Soboroff told his Monday morning audience due to the record amount of voters, Democrats will vote on Tuesday and Republicans on Wednesday Thursday and Friday. “It was said in jest, it was very apparent that it was said in jest. I also said that Republicans were charging 5 and a quarter at the polls for the pencils to fill in the ballots,” said a chuckling Soboroff.

It may have been intended as a joke, but the local Republicans think it could be damaging misinformation. “It shouldn’t be a laughing matter at all,” said Johnson County Republican Co-Chair Todd Versteegh.

The Johnson County Republicans have filed an ethics complaint with the state election board. They’re also investigating steps to file a complaint with the FCC and the Federal Election Commission. The republicans say they’re appalled, and believe the comment may have confused elderly voters. “This close to an election, this type of behavior should not be tolerated at all by either Republicans or Democrats,” said Versteegh.

The Republicans are also upset that Democratic County Supervisor Terrence Neuzil was on the air at the time. But Neuzil told TV9, Soboroff’s comment was obviously a joke.

Just to be clear, everyone; Democrats, Republicans and all others will all head to the polls Tuesday.



Posted by Buster at November 2, 2004 10:51 AM | TrackBack
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