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Rep. Perry: Liberal Blog Holds People Accountable “and That’s Good”

Published 2019-01-28 by Cory Allen Heidelberger

Why did Senator Al Novstrup (R-3/Aberdeen) praise rookie Representative Kaleb Weis (R-2?Aberdeen) but ridicule his District 3 counterpart rookie Representative Carl Perry (R-3/Aberdeen) at Saturday’s Aberdeen crackerbarrel?

Maybe it was because Rep. Weis didn’t say much, while Rep. Perry capped off a rich battery of statistics and policy commentary with this unsolicited statement that Aberdeen’s liberal blog provides a valuable public service:

That was so unexpected, it made the Dakota Free Press camera jump!

Representative Perry’s opening lines had me thinking he’d timewarped to Sunday church and was offering a benediction. But then he said this about independent journalism:

For Cory over here, you know, filming and doing what he does… uh, once in a while, Cory can even be controversial—I don’t know if you knew that—but here’s the facts: he is holding people accountable for things and that’s good [Rep. Carl Perry, closing remarks at Aberdeen crackerbarrel, 2019.01.26].

I’ll be darned: a South Dakota Republican legislator who’s into transparency and who says a controversial liberal blog can be useful in holding legislators accountable. Thank you, Representative Perry, or recognizing the value of the free press.

Now maybe I can get Representative Perry to amend House Bill 1074 to properly include bloggers in Jon Hansen’s proposed journalist shield law.

Published in South Dakota

6 Comments

  1. Porter Lansing

    Dennert’s got that “Covington Conceit” all over his baby mug. Who elected the greenhorn?

    2019-01-28
  2. Debbo

    See, Carl is a Northern Wolf and I think we were in the same class, or maybe a year apart. 1976. I think Carl has aged better. We weren’t friends, but acquaintances is probably more accurate.

    Nostrap doesn’t like anyone who shows any sign of ethics or morals or any of that silly stuff. He absolutely does not want anyone holding him accountable.

    2019-01-28
  3. Rick

    I was going to make a comment about Dennert’s contemptuous glance but Mr. Lansing nailed it. :)

    2019-01-28
  4. Cory Allen Heidelberger

    Funny—I don’t read contempt in Drew’s look. And I’d rather focus on the positive words shared by a Republican legislator. See? Even some Republicans care about accountability.

    2019-01-28
  5. Debbo

    I have to disagree with Porter and Rick. That’s not my perception.

    My perception is that people who are NSC/NSU graduates are outstanding people, and modest. 😁

    2019-01-29

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