Candidate Bill Press’ Canny KABC Farewell

The city’s extremely short list of intelligent TV commentators shrunk even more this week when Bill Press resigned from KABC-TV and KABC radio, thereby putting a formal exclamation point on his candidacy for state insurance commissioner.

The recent death of that wonderful old lion Bill Stout stilled the growly voice of good sense on what is now KCBS-TV, leaving a void in Los Angeles that now becomes even more gaping with the departure of Press, who for more than nine years has been KABC’s designated liberal counterpart to conservative Bruce Herschensohn.

Press’ opinions were typically thoughtful, well-crafted and delivered with style and authority. He was sharp and incisive, and, surely even his political opposites would agree, a pretty terrific communicator who never failed to get your attention.

When it comes to filling his spot on Channel 7, let’s hope the station chooses as wisely as KABC (790) radio did in picking Ramona Ripston, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, to replace him on the afternoon clash of insults and political doctrines that he had been hosting with conservative Bill Pearl. In fact, why not replace Press with a female on TV, too?

One of Press’ most valuable commodities as a commentator was his wicked sense of humor.

So he must have been smiling to himself all these many weeks that KABC allowed him to continue his regular shots on TV and radio. In effect, KABC was letting him exploit the airwaves to his political advantage, not necessarily through anything he said, but merely by appearing and speaking on them. Access to the airwaves is a potentially priceless advantage in political campaigns.

Despite denials by Press, there were strong feelings in some circles that he had long ago decided to run for insurance commissioner (as evidenced by his fund raising and other candidate-like activities), but had delayed a formal announcement in order to remain on the air and benefit from TV and radio exposure as long as feasible.

Press doesn’t see it that way. He said Wednesday that he resigned Monday not because he had to, but because it was the opening day for filing papers indicating an intent to run, “and I made up my mind that I wanted to do that and get off the air right away. I could legally have remained on the air until March 9 (the deadline for filing actual candidacy papers).”

Just because something is strictly legal does not always make it ethical, however--a basic lesson that seems to have eluded KABC as well.

As followers of KABC know, this is familiar turf for the station that allowed Herschensohn to stay on the air and announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 1986, and allowed Press to do the same when he sought the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in 1987. Perhaps KABC felt it couldn’t abuse the airwaves and allow one of its candidate commentators to gain an unfair advantage without doing it for the other.

It’s appalling that the station would do it for either man.

Another attribute that enlivened Press’ commentaries was his ability to see through sham. No snowing this man.

During his farewell TV commentary Monday, Press purported to explain his decision to relinquish his broadcasting forum to run for insurance commissioner. “You have to understand me,” he said, and then immediately proceeded to inform viewers what a swell and crusading guy he was. When he vowed “to fight for the people again,” you had to fight back the tears. It was truly moving.

It was also a self-serving campaign speech for himself, one made on “Eyewitness News” in front of a very large audience, a free forum that KABC so far has not extended to his opponents.

“At least I didn’t ask for money,” said Press, alluding to Herschensohn’s pitch for funds in announcing his Senate candidacy on KABC in 1986.

Press rejected the charge that he used his KABC finale to officially open his campaign. “I made a deliberately conscious decision not to make a campaign speech,” he said. “I think it was a fitting and low-key farewell to an audience I’ve been speaking to daily. I had to tell people where I was going and why I was doing it. Some may call it a campaign speech, but I really thought it was an appropriate goodby.”

Yes, there’s no stopping that sense of humor.

Actually, his commentary-cloaked campaign announcement was not only a cynical put-on, but also exactly the kind of transparent target that Press, in other times, would have easily seen through and delighted in obliterating.

What Los Angeles needed Monday was a Bill Press to expose Bill Press. On this occasion, instead of seeking truth, he was seeking office.