The People's Democratic Party in the Media

From the People's Democratic Party's inception until its eventual rise to power, it was perceived by many as "a fundamentally greedy minority of San Corenzans out to control the world's supply of Torzone, and willing to do so by any means necessary, in spite of their stated affection for non-violence." (Washington Post, 4 Apr 2015).

There had been variations on the common theme over time, however:

• Through the initial months in existence, it was seen primarily as a faddish, and even laughable, minority among the island's "silent majority."

  "We have discussed the situation with the President, and we do not believe that the so-called Democratic Party can muster the resources to threaten the interests of the United States."
  - Marcus Hays, Director of FBI (12 Jul 2012)

• After mid-September of 2012, when an independent poll revealed that fully 45% of San Corenzo's native citizens supported the goals of the party, newspapers began to demonize party leadership as rapacious and self-aggrandizing:

  "Menor can not expect it to go unnoticed that the person who has the most to win by a bloody revolution is, namely, himself. Moral considerations aside, one can hardly blame him - what demagogue would turn aside the chance to rule what might be the wealthiest nation on earth?"
  - Editorial, New York Times (29 Oct 2012)

• During late 2013, however, once the first acts of sabotage were reported, the popular media were virtually unanimous in blaming the People's Democratic Party in general, and Menor in particular, for these "acts against humanity."

  "It is this Senator's opinion that Mr. Pedro Menor should be called before an international tribunal to answer for his crimes. Every speck of datura he and his cronies destroy steals the precious gift of life from hundreds of innocent citizens across the world, and this is just the sort of hooliganism that no nation can tolerate."
  - Senator Fred Walters, (R) North Carolina. (14 Feb 2014)

• The situation escalated in December 2015, as Congress debated whether to officially designate the Party as a terrorist organization. Some have attributed these debates to President Rollins' desire to improve his party's showing in the 2016 elections, but for whatever reason, the Party was dangerously close to becoming an illegal organization.

  [AGUSTA] And if they refuse us?
  [MENOR] Then we destroy them. Our country must be free.
  - from Death in San Corenzo, an early 2016 mini-series.

• After March of 2016, as the revolutionaries began to gain the upper hand, the popular media went strangely silent on the situation. Governmental officials promised that 'steps were being taken' to determine Menor's location, and bring him to stand trial. No progress was made, and with the publication of the Party's International Open Pledge, it became increasingly difficult to regard them as overtly malign.

  I am not at liberty to say what we are doing, but we are doing everything we can.
  - President Burngray, 15 Sep 2017

• But in December of 2018, after UGC officially began to lobby the government to recognize an independent San Corenzo, and after negotiations had begun, the media swiftly began to portray Menor and the Party as crafty, perhaps even obsequious, but eager to reconcile foreign interests.

  We're watching them, and they know we're watching them, and they know that if they even try to violate the arrangements of the final treaty - they're going to regret it. Meanwhile, we will continue our investigations of their activities.
  - President Burngray, 8 Oct 2018

• Finally, after the failure of Operation Nightshade, when the governments' operations were finally exhausted, and San Corenzo was granted independence, some of the media began to with the new Democratic Republic, while others remained decidedly suspicious.

  We must expect initial hostilities. What young adult, full of the rush of newfound independence, has not made thoughtless proclamations of his strength?
  - Hamden Review, 30 Sep 2018.

  The world is held hostage. So long as the current regime remains in control of San Corenzo, we will never know when our supply of Marquessen's Datura, our lifeblood, will be cut off irrevocably.
  - New York Times, 1 Oct 2018.

See also:

People's Democratic Republic of San Corenzo

Protectorate of San Corenzo

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