Duane Graham Calls Billy Long a Mystery Man and Enforces How Bad the News-Leader's Reporting is in 2010

Duane Graham and I are on complete opposites of the political spectrum, but we have become friends through blogging, and we appreciate each other's love for country. Even though he isn't conservative, he still writes articles that I can agree with from time to time--although he'll tell you he thinks mine and all conservative views are crazy, but he does it respectfully. Personally, I think his liberal views are nuts, but that's not the point here.

Graham calls the Springfield News-Leader's endorsement of Billy Long an endorsement of a mystery man. I tend to agree. The Springfield News-Leader hasn't lifted one stone to discover who Billy Long really is, and it probably comes down to this:

Here's Graham's excellent article on Billy Long and the Springfield News-Leader from the Erstwhile Conservative:

Springfield Paper Endorses The Mystery Man

By Duane Graham

Well, the Springfield News-Leader has “strongly” endorsed Billy Long.

The paper said:

Long promises to bring common sense to Washington.

Is that what you call Long’s “fed up” simplicity? Common sense?

And the paper noted the most salient fact about Long’s campaign:

His platform and public explanations of it during the primary and general campaigns have at times generated questions and claims of contradiction.

At times? And “claims” of contradiction? His move to get the endorsement of an anti-Social Security group called Conservative Congress was successful. They endorsed him. Why? I tried to find out from the group but they aren’t talking.

Here is Conservative Congress’ position on an issue that should be of utmost importance to voters here or anywhere:

Conservative Congress supports candidates who are committed to de-regulating and dismantling wasteful federal social agencies and programs. Specifically, Conservative Congress supports candidates who seek to dismantle the Department of Education and Social Security, by and through constructive reforms…

Conservative Congress endorsed Long because it believes he is “aligned with” their Issues Statement, from which the above language comes.

Yet Long has pretended he doesn’t know what the fuss is all about. He has denied knowing anything about it.

The News-Leader defends Long with this:

He’s new to this. He’s learning. He listens. He’s willing to modify his views.

Yes, that’s the point!  He is willing to modify his views, at least until after the election. He led Conservative Congress to believe one thing about his views on Social Security and he is leading 7th District voters to believe something else.

With this discrepancy in his position hanging out there, how can a reputable newspaper endorse him, “strongly” or otherwise?