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The Bull Moose's Reality Check For Bloggers

I caught some heat in the blogosphere a few weeks ago when I argued that bloggers do not have as much influence as they might think on major policy issues. Now Bull Moose Marshall Wittmann is asking the question, "Are Bloggers Necessary?"

His post from earlier this week was part praise for moderate bloggers and part appeal for more such commentary "from the vital center." But in making that appeal, Wittman argued that politicians should be wary in giving too much weight to what bloggers think.

"[I]t is generally a good thing that the blogosphere provides an opportunity for more and more Americans who want to get engaged and sound off," he wrote. "However, we should keep it in perspective. The blogosphere is generally an ideological hothouse that does not reflect the everyday thoughts of Americans. In that way, it is much like talk radio."

Wittman's comments, too, sparked some reaction in the blogosphere -- from left-leaning bloggers who ridiculed his call for centrism.

Ezra Klein, a writer for The American Prospect, led the charge. "What frustrates me about Wittman is that he's infatuated with centrism for the sake of centrism," Klein wrote. "He doesn't offer an ideology with greater coherence than the splintered philosophies pushed by the major parties. ... He wants a third way, but so far as I can tell, all he's interested in is the building of the road, not where it goes."

David Sirota of the Progressive Legislative Action Network was even more blunt, and personal. "Wittman is an ignoramus who likes to talk about the need for 'ideas' -- but is badly lacking when it comes to actually having ideas himself," Sirota wrote. And Nate of Common Sense added: "I can never decide what exactly Wittman stands for. Other than being against partisanship."

Posted by | 10:24 PM

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