If Maine’s largest newspaper company had previously tried to mask its Democrat leanings, it has now dropped all semblance of balance.
Steve Collins, who has been a statehouse reporter, announced he’s now wearing a new title – political columnist.
“Since I’ll be writing a fair amount about state and local politics in this new role, I should tell you up front that I’ve been a Democrat since day one,” Collins proudly boasted.
Collins covered Maine politics for years and just now confesses his political orientation?
Like, stop the presses: Wow!
How could the executive editor be so politically tone deaf? Amateur hour.
Promoting a boomer white man to a premier columnist spot clearly won’t please many of the state’s self-proclaimed liberal readers who would die on the hill of “diversity.”
But lest anyone think Collins is the favorite son of the so-called family known as white Democrats, he wants to make one thing perfectly clear:
“No party commands my loyalty,” he promised readers – or however many subscribers the Maine Trust for Local News still claims.
The trust, which in 2023 bought the once-respected Portland Press Herald in addition to three other dailies, has been spinning it’s wheels since.
Besides jettisoning several editors, publishers and myriad top managers, the budget-challenged company recently said it’s abolishing 50 jobs.
Collins survived the sweep, emerging with more Democrat partisan political clout than he may even have enjoyed in his previous role.
“I’ve known a great many admirable Republicans, voted for some, and generally prefer politicians who are eager to compromise and get things done rather than engaging in the endless feuding that threatens our precious democracy,” he said. “What I can promise is that I’ll always do my best to be truthful and fair.”
The promotion of Collins, who has always enjoyed a good skewering at the alleged expense of The Maine Wire, drew a succinct reaction from Steve Robinson, the Wire’s editor-in-chief.
“That’s funny,” Robinson intoned.
What else need be said?
Editor’s note: Ted Cohen is a former longtime staffer for the Portland Press Herald.
