Why is it that the highest traffic posts on the hard right political blogs often are the ones where we are forced to go there to defend ourselves against lies — not the ones about the issues? It’s a recurring theme.
It’s one thing to lie that I am a “local leftie” — when I am a moderate who has voted for Republicans and Democrats during my life. To the hard right, I suppose anything to your left is, well, “leftist.”
But here’s an example of a more serious allegation — that I used LSD in my youth — from none other than “John S” on Russ Steele’s blog. I was forced to go there to defend myself:
•JohnS said in reply to jeff pelline…
Good grief, Peline is whacked. Maybe he is having flashbacks from the LSD he did in his youth.
•jeff pelline said…
John,
Please retract that false, libelous statement. Thanks!
•JohnS said in reply to jeff pelline…
Jeff,
Please consider my statement fully retracted. I don’t know what I was thinking.
The details are here.
This does not happen in a vacuum — and it has been going on in our community for a long time.
I partly blame the tenure of our Congressman Tom McClintock and Assemblyman Dan Logue for this highly charged atmosphere in the blogosphere. Their own rhetoric is highly pitched, and they do not lead by example.
In fact, Logue and McClintock both have publicly praised the hard right blogs, just egging them on. One example: “I was surprised when Dan stop mid speech to recognize NC Media Watch’s contribution to the Prop 23 battle,” writes Russ.
“Contribution?” Hardly. Go back and read the personal attacks.
Sacramento Connect has added legitimacy to the hard right political blogs by accepting them into the blogging network, despite recent concerns raised about bigotry, for example. They need to tighten up their terms.
The Union and KVMR has given a platform to some of the same people, without providing a counter opinion.
Many people greatly misunderstand what the First Amendment does — and does not — provide protections for.
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