Prince William Friends And A Question On Blogs
I had a wonderful opportunity yesterday to have breakfast with the Neabsco District of the Prince William Democratic Committee. I not only got the opportunity to wish many long time friends a successful New Year but, along with Fairfax County Chairman Gerald Connolly talked about the upcoming 11th District Congressional Race. While we both talked of our respective campaigns (his exploratory, my formal) we also got to take questions from the assembled.
Manes Pierre (who has had his own experience with the blogoshpere) asked if I would repudiate blogs who say negative, nasty or untrue things. I answered by stating that while I don’t like some posts by bloggers, that it was a first amendment issue as far as I was concerned and that I did not have any control over bloggers nor did I want to. Chairman Connolly decried the atmosphere in blogs and pointed out he wasn’t looking for support in the blogoshere; then asked me to repudiate one blogger in particular about a post concerning the personal hygene of a State Senator. I said, “I repudiate it but now what?” I went on to say every blog has an opportunity to to make whatever points it wishes to make in whatever fashion it wishes. It is up to readers to discern if a blog or a post is unfair, untrue or just silly. This is called the free marketplace of ideas. The same holds true for the mainstream media.
I have been the subject of negative posts, blog commenters and campaign trolls. Did I like it, particularly if it was untrue? That is a resounding NO. I either engage those people or ignore those people. Which is also everyone’s right. I have enjoyed much support in the blogosphere, mainly because I treat them as the information conduit they are-not as a threat but as an opportunity to reach more people with my ideas and issues. There are millions of blogs covering every topic under the sun. If you don’t find one to your liking you have many more millions from which to choose.
Just for the record, I take no responsibility for anyone’s blog except the one you are reading now.
Joel Rutstein:
Do you expect to add blogs to your blogroll? Can you please explain what attributes the three blogs you’ve listed as of the time of this comment have that made you add them to your blogroll?
13 January 2008, 10:40 pmLeslie:
Joel: I will be updating the blogroll in the future but I chose the blogs that had extensive blogrolls of their own.
14 January 2008, 9:06 amRob:
Were not talking about random, anonymous comments… The question was in reference to several tasteless postings by Ben Tribbett of Not Larry Sabato- a former employee who you know very well and whose blog you link to.
Based on the frequency and content of their coverage, there is some coordination- either formal (paid) or informal with Not Larry Sabato and Raising Kaine. (NLS has tried to hide / obscure his role as campaign staff / consultant in the past)
NLS calls itself “The Official Transition Office of Congresswoman Elect Leslie Byrne,”
Allowing such a statement indicates responsibility and agreement with NLS statements and tactics, which is disturbing.
You do have some control, you can refuse to promote / link to a blog, you can ask that a blog remove your pictures, You can stop promoting events / stories on blogs you don’t agree with.
But you can’t have it both ways.
Either have control over your “Official Transition Office” or you don’t…
Rob: I think you have me mistaken for someone else. Ben over at NLS has never been an employee of mine. My blogroll is based on which blogs in Northern Virginia have an extensive blogroll of their own, so folks can link to a broad opinion base and I will be adding to it soon. I will skip to your last point, “Either have control over your “Official Transition Office” or you don’t…” I don’t, and the point of my post is that readers should decide what is worth their time, not me.
14 January 2008, 2:39 pmBlogs And Congressional Races « Bryan J. Scrafford:
[...] Posted on January 14, 2008 by Bryan Scrafford There has been a lot of discussion lately about a recent post that Leslie Byrne wrote on her blog a few days ago. The core of her post was that she tends to [...]
14 January 2008, 3:15 pmManes Pierre:
Dear Leslie,
It was an honor to have heard you and Gerald speak during our last breakfast. I have found both of you to have earned my trust and confidence. Your leadership was definitely well evidenced.
Thank you for answering the question on this site. I am satisfied with your position.
Good luck in the race!
Manes Pierre
15 January 2008, 6:13 amPrince William County Resident and voter
billy martin 1972:
billy martin 1972
I Googled for something completely different, but found your page…and have to say thanks. nice read.
13 February 2008, 10:59 am