Journalist Joins Dem Candidate/Bob Schieffer Brother's Campaign for TX Governor

April 2nd, 2009 1:01 PM

Jumping ship from jobs-shedding print and broadcast outlets to Democratic campaigns or administrations seems to be the favored bailout package of liberal journalists these days.

The latest example comes today in a news release from the exploratory committee of Texas Democrat Tom Schieffer, younger brother to CBS "Face the Nation" host Bob "Boners" Schieffer. In an April 2 press release, the gubernatorial hopeful heartily welcomed longtime print journalist Clay Robison -- praising him as "a reporter's reporter" -- aboard his staff as Director of Communications (h/t NewsBusters contributor Seton Motley).:

"I am gratified that someone of Clay's reputation and integrity will be joining our team," Schieffer said. "I want my campaign to be about openness and honesty and I can think of no one who better epitomizes those values than Clay Robison. For almost forty years he has been known as a reporter's reporter.  I am so pleased that he will be speaking for the campaign and me. But I told Clay that I wanted him to be more than just a spokesman. I want him to be an integral part of the campaign so that I can call upon his wise counsel and long years of experience in dealing with state government.

The Schieffer Exploratory Committee's release notes that Robison "covered state government and politics for 38 years. Most of that time, he was the Austin bureau chief for the Houston Chronicle and recently for both the Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News."