Denver, Colo., hosts the National Western Stock Show every January and Dean Singleton doesn’t seem to mind all the livestock that comes to town. After all, the chief executive of the Denver-based MediaNews Group and publisher of The Denver Post owns four cattle ranches.

But now that the Democratic National Convention is coming to Denver in August, Singleton has changed his tune.

According to a report in the Denver Post, Singleton is threatening to pull his support of a media welcoming committee if it sponsors an exhibition rodeo or cattle drive parade.

Why?

Singleton doesn’t want the national media to portray Denver as a “cow town,” the Post reported, citing sources. The Post said Singleton declined to comment to his own newspaper.

Politics might be another factor. Singleton calls himself a “good friend” of President Bush and was a contributor to Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns. The rodeo was proposed by two Democrats, Congresswoman Diana DeGette of Denver and U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, a Colorado cattle rancher.