It's Tough Being Unknown!

It is not such a good thing when  "everybody knows somebody sometime" and you are not on the list.  When you are the new guy, sometimes the press forgets.  
 
Many of my friends have asked me how I hope to get known in the five counties that make up Congressional District 11.  Let me tell you, it is tough.  Please read the next essay in this section to answer that question.
 
I admit that to get the attention of the Press, I first had to "press" my nose against the glass of the Times-Leader to get their attention and since then, I can say with them it has been smooth sailing.  The Times/CV and I kept missing each other. Yes, I was pressing against the glass but, so were they.
 
The TL has not endorsed me "YET" by any stretch of the imagination, but I do think I have a shot at it.  Maybe buckshot, maybe Rice Crispies but I have a shot.  I do believe that.
 
I think they the TL and the CV will be fair.  I ran through the TL  gauntlet of reporters several weeks ago, and they were all kind.  They keep in touch. 
 
I expect that the Scranton Times / Tribune and the Citizens' Voice, both a part of Times Shamrock will endorse me within minutes.  OK, perhaps days or weeks. I just hope it is not never.  Pulling up at the CV Editorial Board meeting today, I did get the best parking meter space.  It was right outside the front door and was also an ideal spot for a Coughlin teacher.  Once parked, I met with their Editiorial "gauntlet" team.  I think that great parking spot is a good indicator of where the campaign is going.  Remember, I did win the lottery for the ballot position and I am number 1.    
 
Reporters and Newspaper Executives are not easy to move to your side so perhaps the CV and the TL remain unmoved.  But, I am very tickled that I did a lot better before these boards than I expected.  I always do fear having to quote Jackie Gleason for all responses. The "humma humma" may work in comedy but not in a serious interview.   I didn't "humma" even once in either interview so I am really quite tickled.  Maybe they liked me or maybe they liked the idea of my candidacy. Either way their questions were not softball and they seemed to be pleased with my responses.  Soon they will both be reporting about the meetings, and all of us, including me,  will see. 
 
The Press's problem in this primary season for the D11 Congressional seat is that "Nobody expected that a guy 'who nobody knows,' would run for office."   And so I know that as a candidate, I was very close to being summarily ignored.  

Nobody in the Press tried to hurt me. But, before I was contacted by either Paper, after writing both of the  NEPA "Papers"  multiple times, trying to assure them I was a viable candidate, state certified, I had some thoughts about whether my exclusion from coverage was intentional. 
 
I would hope that regardless of whether I win or lose the primary, the papers and the other news media of NEPA should permit candidates to do things that help the people be informed about where they stand on the major issues of the day.  I had few vehicles provided for me that would help the people know who I am.

Thus, anybody other than an incumbent  or one well endowed by blessings (cash) would always be relegated to backseat in an election. 

The papers. TV, and Radio etc. should permit those who choose not to take machine money to submit a short essay, perhaps several times during the campaign.  In some media, a short essay per week might be appropriate. In others, a mere mention every now and then would be very informative for the people.  

Having said all that I don't really want it to be forced on the Press.  I believe the Press and all speech should be free. The charter of the press is to provide news to the people, and news about who may be chosen to represent the people is worthy news indeed.

For me, the bottom line is that it is not easy for democracy to continue when the people have a tough time getting on the ballot and then they must fight against mythical forces to convince even their neighbors that they are serious in the endeavor.  My political friends say that is the nature of the beast. I say, the beast is the problem.

 
Anyway, having once had some questioning thoughts about the Press, I am now convinced that it was not intentional.  I was excluded for sure for a number of weeks,  and perhaps the Press will choose to make that up.  But it  was not intentional and I feel good about that and so can you.

 
An attentive press, concerned about the people, is very necessary to help a person not endowed by the machine to get the message out. 
 
I do have this Web site, www.briankellyforcongress.com . I Thank you for visiting.   I know that people do not just appear on this site.  Most have to learn about it from some other media.  Then, they can come to this site to learn about me and to learn why many believe that I am the best person right now for the job of Representative of the People.
 
I think they are right and I am working as hard as I can with the constraints that I have to help you know that I think like you do.
 
Thank you for visiting: