Liberal Free Times looks smaller than it was; anguish over Steve Benjamin troubles

The National Action Network’s fifth annual
Triumph Awards ceremony recognized
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin as
Public Servant of the Year.

Anyone notice Free Times alternative newspaper looks weaker these days? The newspaper seems to be about one-half the bulk (number of pages) it once was.

Not too long ago Free Times had a cover asking: Why are there fewer African-American Major League baseball players? "Taken Out of the Ball Game” was the title. What riveting subject matter for Columbia. I did not read it, so I cannot really say what Free Times was trying to imply.

And the paper displays an extra-special brand of hatred for GOP Gov. Nikki Haley. I can imagine any report, especially dealing with race, was the regular tripe-fest of liberal cliches.

Talk about being out of touch.

Anyway, I was at a Cayce restaurant Thursday and picked up a copy of Free Times. I'm very interested in media, and the direction it's heading.

Free Times had a photo of Columbia Mayor Steven Benjamin on the cover.

“Mayor, Mayor on the Wall: What does the future hold for embattled Mayor Steven Benjamin?"

On the inside is a three-page, mostly gray cerebral diatribe, rehashing what has been public knowledge about Benjamin for a month.

The Free Times writer: Eva Moore, wrestles with the accusations of dates with exotic dancers, payouts, influence peddling and ethics violations. It seems like thousands of words to rehash the fact that Benjamin looks shady and like a slimeball.

Moore seems to have a hard time accepting the fact that the claims made against Benjamin could result in more serious action against him.

Remember Free Times first got the Danny Frazier video gambling recording, that has led to indictments of public officials. But Free Times and Huffington Post correspondent Cory Hutchins balked. Was it because the name of a top Democrat, in Benjamin, surfaced?

Who knows? But Free Times is more liberal, or more blatant about it, than The State.

If it is struggling to be as fat as it once was, it may say something about the marketability of liberal media in Columbia.

Hopefully people really do vote with their pocketbook. If so, it would be a good idea to support any Conservative media that makes an effort to serve South Carolina's people better.

Less Free Times, is better for the Midlands, and better for South Carolina.