Wednesday, March 09, 2005
OHIO NOT OBSESSED WITH UK ELECTION
Regarding the British election, Randal Robinson inquires: “I’m looking forward to the letter writing campaign informing British voters how Americans and Aussies want them to vote. When do we get started?” Too late, Randal! The BBC is already running a Reverse Operation Clark County, as the Akron Beacon Journal reports:
A crew from the British Broadcasting Corp.‘s Washington radio bureau flew into Columbus and drove west Wednesday. Their goal: to find out who Clark County residents think their jolly allies abroad should vote for in the upcoming parliamentary election.
The BBC is taking a cue from The Guardian, a 400,000-circulation left-leaning newspaper in England.
The Guardian began Operation Clark County in October, asking readers to send letters to people here regarding the presidential elections. It garnered international media attention but fell flat here.
The BBC’s effort is meant to be tongue-in-cheek, Tara Neill, BBC Washington bureau senior radio producer, said.
Despite the cheeky intentions, Justin Webb, senior correspondent for the BBC Washington bureau, said there is a message.
“It underlies the point the Guardian was trying to make,” Webb said. “It’s not fair that Americans have all the influence but we don’t have any say.”
Webb and Neill said they planned to talk to people on the streets to get their opinions.
“The problem is no one is the slightest bit interested,” Webb conceded.
There’s a shock.