Candidates and Bloggers: Must We Agree?
Following up on the last post I wrote about Taylor Marsh's response to those who think she's blogging for Hillary, I have a few thoughts of my own on how bloggers, particularly TalkLeft, covers campaigns.
I have long said that Hillary and John Edwards are my two favorite Democratic candidates. I haven't endorsed either yet and like most bloggers, probably won't before the first primaries. Any of the Democratic candidates will have my support if they win and there are none (except perhaps Joe Biden) I would be unhappy with.
All of the candidates' campaigns send out press releases and e-mails on issues, news and events to bloggers daily. I write about those that strike a chord with me on that particular day.
Like Taylor, I'm covering the 2008 election, not a single candidate. I write about Hillary the most because so far she is the most interesting candidate. She also has great campaign outreach through Peter Daou, her Internet communications director. He doesn't flood our e-mail boxes with every possible soundbite, but knows the individual blogs well enough only to send each those items he thinks would be of interest. As to what he sends TalkLeft, he's always on the mark.
No candidate is going to match my positions on issues or focus on those I care most about.
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That would require a candidate who vows as President to impose a moratorium on executions, close Guantanamo, try accused terrorists under the Code of Military Justice or in federal courts, insist Congress abolish mandatory minimum sentences, put a lockbox on my social security benefits and provide mandatory health care, including affordable and compassionate nursing home care, for the elderly. And of course, a candidate who as President would end the war in Iraq and promise not to get us into other wars preemptively or under false pretenses.
There is no such candidate who has a chance of winning in this presidential election.
Which means, instead of focusing on individual issues, I'm focusing on the candidates' overall values, their capacity to lead, their experience and yes, their likeability and electability.
I like Hillary. I think she's electable. I don't believe she's crafting her positions on issues to match expectations or popular opinion.
I like John Edwards. I think he's electable. I'm not sure about whether his more liberal positions in this campaign as compared to the 2004 campaign are genuine and lasting. I hope they are.
Big Tent Democrat has endorsed Chris Dodd.
You may disagree. That's why blogs have comments. Or, you can start your own blog.
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