As I predicted here a few days ago, the Knoxville News Sentinel’s shopping circular wrapper would probably editorialize negatively on Troy Whiteside’s plea agreement. Sure enough, after stringer Victor Ashe has written about Whiteside 4 times in 14.5 months. Almost once a quarter. Now, this week stringer Betty Bean gives one of the most lopsided article attacking political receive to of Whiteside’s campaign contributions. Primarily, attacking the Duncan family. Some of her facts have been questioned and even on the local liberal playground, she acknowleges that she hasn’t read anything of the file in many months. She is relying on her memory (cough, cough, cough). BTW, Bean says she found a pretty good summary to a somewhat related Daily Times story and linked to it on the local liberal playground. You are welcome Bean for me putting that link in my story this weekend for you to find. No finders fees will be charged to your account.

What Bean left out is that Whiteside has contributed extensively to other political candidates and winners. The Knox County Mayor for one (of course the Mayor has appeared before the state elections ethics panel twice for irregularities and is rumored to be facing a third complaint). Additionally, it has been stated by several sources that the County Mayor’s Chief of Staff at one time represented Mr. Whitesdie in government relations. Several sources indicate that the Mayor’s Chief of Staff was a tag along guest of Mr. Whiteside’s at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis.

I have been told Bean is a stringer for the News Sentinel owned shopping circular wrapper, Ashe may not be a stringer in that he may not receive compensation. It seems to be the only attention the former Knoxville Mayor can get. Stringer is defined as “a freelance journalist or photographer who contributes reports or photos to a news organization on an ongoing basis but is paid individually for each piece of published or broadcast work.”