I guess that Jim Ronca is a "staunch Republican" in the same sense that Jennifer Hunter is a "staunchly objective and competent journalist."

I'm not sure "registration" is the be all and end all for deciding political affiliation.

Here in NC, before we had a Republican primary, many people registered as Democrats and voted for the weaker candidates to undermine the voting. I'm pretty sure ideology is defined by your thoughts, voting and support, not by registering for one party or the other.

Maybe Teddy threatened to date Ronca's daughter, or take her for a drive.

On the other hand, Ronca is as much a "staunch" Republican as Chuck Hagel and Olympia Snowe are "key" Republicans.

The fact she's married to the publisher is what really stinks. I had read the Sun-times was going to present more "liberal" columns but changed the plan to who knows what. Thank goodness they have all those layers of fact-checking editors and journalistic ethics.

This is an old MSM tactic that is losing its effectiveness because of the Internet. Remember how the media characterized Anita Hill as a Republican (as if that fact meant conclusively that she could have no ulterior motive in slandering Clarence Thomas)? And who can forget the various anti-gun activists who are described as hunters and gun owners.