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Say it ain’t so, Doogie

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Illinois

I remember the first time I met Dick Kay. I had watched him on TV for much of my life so when I saw him at the Rathskellar (the cafeteria in the Statehouse basement) I cautiously approached him and told him how much I always enjoyed his hard-hitting political reports. He was gracious and kind, and after that we developed a pretty good relationship.

You may have heard that Kay has signed on as a spokesperson to help Gov. Blagojevich pass his health care proposals. Carol Marin, who knows everybody (she has George Clooney’s private number programmed on her cell phone, for crying out loud), replaced Kay as Channel 5’s political editor after Dick retired last year. Her Sun-Times column today (Marin has about fifty different jobs) is about Kay’s surprising move…

I am struggling to imagine Dick Kay on the other side, standing in front of a bank of microphones, facing a crush of cameras at a news conference, answering questions instead of bellowing them out.

It gives me a headache.

“Doogie,” as he is called by everyone who really knows him, has just left the retirement he only months ago entered, at age 70, to be hired this week by Gov. Blagojevich as his special advocate for health care.

Yes, that’s right: The guy who was a fixture on WMAQ-Channel 5 News for almost four decades reporting on politics in Chicago has gone over, as we who are still in the business like to say, to the “dark side.” The same Dick Kay who in 1985 won a prestigious Peabody Award for his investigation of government boards and commissions that served no public purpose other than loading the state payroll with the wives, girlfriends, husbands and kids of legislators, is now on the state payroll himself.

Thoughts?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 9:05 am

Comments

It appears that the Gov is taking a page from the Pres who appointed Tony Snow as his press Sec. Now I don’t know Dick Kay but I’ve watched him for 40 years and he seems to be genuine. If He says he’s passionate about health care than I believe him. I hope he will recognize the difference between plans that will be truly helping the public (which I don’t expect) and political grandstanding (which I do).

Comment by Utility Infielder Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 10:05 am
I don’t think I like the image of Mr. Kay shelling for Blagojevich. Icky.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 10:07 am
He’s come out of the closet.

I wonder if he will provide the same depth of analysis he used when he was “a reporter.”

Comment by East Peoria Fan Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 10:12 am
Mr. Snodgrass should comment about his own relatives working on the state payroll first………..

Comment by KenoMan Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 10:15 am
He joins how many reporters who have become government spokesman? Funny how no one has ever really covered that…

Comment by Greg Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 10:25 am
This isn’t anything like Tony Snow…nice try. It should be another clear signal though that Rod prizes press over policy.

Comment by Not so Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 11:04 am
Dick Kay was never a policy wonk, he played “gotchya” reporting. What he brings to the table besides his credibility, I don’t know, and Marin points out that’s not likely to last long.

If Rod had been smart, he would’ve put a woman with professional health care credentials out there instead.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 11:27 am
hmmmmmmmmmm - its easy to criticize Dick about this, but not from me! Its possible you know to do something without adapting to the whole program.

I too know Dick and I think he will help move some health care ideas along. I think this is something he cares about. It has nothing to do with any other dirty politics that may go along.

A smart journalist will be seperate the chaff on what he says and does. I cannot see hime being a shill for some “dark side” politics.

Doug

Comment by Doug Dobmeyer Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 12:29 pm
Dick Kay is a blow hard. He did not get nearly as many good scoops as Chuck Goudie, Andy Shaw or others, or even Fox.
He was good at yelling, spitting, pushing, and being a mean bully and not doing important stories. He had bad fact checkers and was hated by other workers.
He is a mean spirited poor journalist who now has sold out ethics for a job.
A sad commentary on the revolving door of journalism and the conflicts it possibly can bring.

Comment by Fahey Flynn Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 12:29 pm
If Dick Kay wanted to advance the cause of health care, there are plenty advocacy organizations that would have hired him for $50 an hour. Now he is an advocate for the Governor, no other way spin this one. What a disappointment.

Comment by Goodbye Napoleon Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 12:36 pm
He can’t be impartial on this. He is going to be communicating the Blagojevich party line, whatever that is. That IS the job.

The first day he’s given something to say to the press and public about this new program that Dick knows on it’s face is a lie, that is the day we all find out what kind of man he really is. Might be a very short 6 months.

What WAS he thinking???

Comment by Hugh Hill's orange ghost Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 12:52 pm
Dick Kay shilled for Democrats for many years. Now, it’s just official.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 1:15 pm
Give Doogie a chance. One.

Comment by Joel Daly Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 1:25 pm
I wonder what his salary is? I bet it is a dandy.

I guess he figures that since he is/was retired his chances of getting meaningful work after shilling for Rod won’t be harmed.

Comment by Papa Legba Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 2:21 pm
I believe that Dick Kay is totally sincere about his concern for the health care issue. I also believe that Dick Kay is already bored silly with retirement and I don’t blame him. It is a hard transition going from one who influences public opinions and issues to one who no longer does. Take note of Dick Kay, Rich, if you were contemplating early retirement. You would hate it.

Dick Kay is an honorable guy who I don’t see acting as a shill for Blagojevich or anybody else for that matter. Integrity is “not for sale” with Dick Kay.

Comment by Beowulf Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 2:43 pm
I remember seeing Dick Kay at a bar on Lincoln Ave. about 25 years ago. It was one of our birthdays so we were at the bar all day and night. And so was Dick. The only difference was that he was sitting in front of the PAC Man machine. All day and all night. I don’t think he even got up to go to the bathroom. The waitress would bring him drinks and he just kept playing and playing. If he was sitting in front of a slot machine he would be broke. If he concentrates on his new job like he did PAC Man he will do well.

Comment by anon Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 3:07 pm
Easy Fahey. I think the bow tie cut off your oxygen. Are you comparing a fedora wearing, cigar smoking journalist to a black light wielding sensationalist? (insrert your own joke here). In his case that door took 40 years to revovlve.

Comment by Utility Infielder Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 3:28 pm
I don’t believe there is any way to work directly for this Governor and not be a pawn for the Governor’s ego and agenda. It may be possible to accomplish something - but only if it is in the Governor’s interest too.

Comment by In the Sticks Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 4:53 pm
I don’t blame the politician for trying to find a know respected media figure who will go along with the polls agenda. Daley has done it big time, started with Avis Lavelle(WGN) and Carolyn Grisco(WBEZ) and Ken Davis, He’s got Peter Karl, who is kinda like a Bill Kurtis lite. Karl gets a million plus a year and gets his Crimewatch show broadcast several times a day on the City’s Municipal TV channels. Avis Lavalle and her Husband have also made millions, Avis was with Waste Management after she left her Press Secretary/Advisor to the Mayor position. At WM She cashed out big time. Carolyn Grisco from WBEZ and her husband have also made out like bandits. BTW Avis who is a pillar of journalistic integrity was the one who stopped the Chicago City Council from being broadcast on Cable Television about 15 years ago, Mayoe Eugene Sawyer had allocated funds to tape the City Council meetings but when he lost Avis sent that money to the City’s TV channel to produce Daley propaganda. Mayor Daley handles his propaganda machine better than Joseph Goebbels. I know this may offend some but I think many in the media are bigger Ho’s than the politicians. As far as Dick Kay I would agree with Fahey Flynn Dick was a big bully.

Comment by Len O'Connor's socks Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 7:13 pm
Anybody but Rod

et tu Dickus

Comment by Julius Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 7:18 pm
In such a pairing, one party seeks to gain prestige and respectability off the other. Blago’s media minds were looking for someone high-profile with credibility and lots of Chicago media contacts to be the “face” and “voice” for the program.

But when I think “health care”, Snodgrass is not the first face that springs to mind. This would have been like hiring John Drummond to do weather reports, sponsored by a Rosemont Casino. Wouldn’t you want someone who has been covering health care for a long time?

What does Doogie get out of this besides the fifty an hour? He gets his reputation rubbed up against that of Blagojevich’s. Like hugging Swamp Thing. Maybe he’s playing out some fantasy like a lifelong vice cop retiring to work as a strip club bouncer? Heck of a way to go out, is all I can say.
Gotta go feed Chelveston, or the darn bird will nibble my ankles clean off.

Comment by Ray Raynor Wednesday, Feb 21, 07 @ 11:13 pm
No wonder he was so rude to Judy Baar Topinka when she appeared on his show during the gubernatorial campaign. And here I thought he was just being sexist….allegiances, allegiances….

Comment by Criminal Enterprise Called Illinois Thursday, Feb 22, 07 @ 2:01 am
I was never confused about his allegiance, very obvious. Just think of all the money the gov. is saving by paying Mr. McKay $50/hour. PS - Welcome to the “Do more with less” Club, Mr. McKay. ENJOY!

Comment by City Voter Thursday, Feb 22, 07 @ 7:32 am