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The Blog Lunch That Backfired

The lunch that former President Bill Clinton hosted in New York with bloggers this week is causing a firestorm of controversy throughout the blogosphere, both because there were no minorities at the event and because one of the female bloggers "posed" in a way that some people found inappropriate.

Both objections are debatable. Some minority bloggers reportedly were invited but couldn't make the trip, and posing for pictures is pretty commonplace. But readers who want the scoop on the controversies -- it does make for some amusing weekend reading -- can get the details and plenty of commentary at the following blogs:

-- Ace of Spades HQ
-- Althouse (and here)
-- CorrenteWire
-- Culture Kitchen
-- Dr. Helen
-- Feministing
-- Firedoglake (and here)
-- Instapundit
-- Lawyers, Guns & Money
-- The News Blog
-- Pam's House Blend
-- Personal Democracy Forum (and here)
-- The Republic of T.
-- TalkLeft

I do wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment from a reader who e-mailed Instapundit: "I find it appalling that anyone would find it acceptable to dine with a former president in clothes as casual as those in the picture." And I'm from West Virginia. (Go Mountaineers!)

On the other hand, Clinton is the president who answered on national television the juvenile question about whether he wears boxers or briefs, so I can't imagine he was too offended by the casual attitude evident in the bloggers' attire. Maybe he was just thankful they didn't come in their pajamas.

UPDATE: Earlier in the week, Christy Hardin Smith, one of the bloggers at the lunch, penned what is arguably the most substantive post about the event. She said that she and co-blogger Jane Hamsher went to the event with a mission: to "emphasize the need for better messaging and coordination/cooperation with blogs and the Democratic leadership, who seem to constantly be trying to work at cross-purposes with all of us."

She mentioned one example at length that is telling of the strategic relationship some bloggers are seeking with the powers-that be:

I thought both Jane and Matt Stoller made excellent points with regard to messaging failures in the Democratic Party and the need for better talking heads to represent us all on the news shows. And the need for much better preparation for those shows. We have offered, in the past, to put together prep information -- specifically on the CIA leak case, because Jane and I have been so steeped in the minutiae and the facts and bigger picture implications -- but no one has ever taken me up on the offers.

I mean, honestly, how hard is it to task someone on your staff to Google for a couple of hours to put together some summary papers on issues you know will be hit on a Sunday show? Or to e-mail a blogger who specializes in a particular issue and ask for help? In case anyone is wondering: We would be more than happy to be helpful -- and we'd actually be discreet and prompt because it's just the sort of people we are.

Smith closed with this thought: "[T]his is an excellent opportunity for blogs and politicians to become much more comfortable with each other in the Democratic Party. The GOP has been using this communications medium to its advantage for quite a while, and it is high time we levelled the playing field -- but bloggers cannot do that by themselves; the elected officials have to start playing ball. And I hope that Clinton’s example of a reach-out will move that along."

Posted by Danny | 03:34 PM

Comments

Could it be that Ms. Smith is one of the only rational Lefty bloggers out there and the Democrats realize that to give "power" to this communication base is too dangerous? I'm not sure I would agree that the Right has been using this to their advantage for quite a while, but with a larger base of sane persons to choose from, the ability to employ it would be easier.

MO Tim | 09.16.06 10:41 PM

"I find it appalling that anyone would find it acceptable to dine with a former president in clothes as casual as those in the picture."

What the hell, they're just going to end up on the floor anyway.

Jim Treacher | 09.17.06 01:11 AM

"I hope that Clinton’s example of a reach-out"

Heh heh, I think he's done far too many "reach out" examples.

Fatmouse | 09.17.06 01:57 AM

Good post...I'm from the opposite side of the hall, but you're right, the Dem's need to get some sanity on presenting their message.

Rich Vail | 09.17.06 08:39 AM

"I have been so steeped in the minutiae and the facts and bigger picture implications -- but no one has ever taken me up on the offers."

I think too many bloggers take themselves too seriously and grossly overestimate the value they can provide as news consolidators. They also underestimate how much their partisanship (on all sides of the political spectrum) limits their usefulness at the national level.

I think blogs work best with a local out-of-the-mainstream perspective, where there's plenty of room for opinions and ideas left and right of the mainstream. Aspiring to anything more than that is a recipe for self-delusion and watered down, compromised writing.

The MSM may suck, but 99.9% of what's written in blogs is derived from what's gathered by the MSM.
That's not likely to change anytime soon.

Frank | 09.25.06 10:37 AM

So Firedoglake gals Chrissy Smitha and Jane "Black Face" Hamsher fancy themselves experts on the Plame affair? Haven't they heard, Fitmas has been permantently cancelled, Rove isn't going to jail, neither is Cheney or Bush.

Too bad clinton hadn't been briefed on all the nasty things Jane said about him in the past, such as his golfing junkets with Kenny Boy Lay

doug | 09.25.06 12:23 PM

Or to e-mail a blogger who specializes in a particular issue and ask for help? In case anyone is wondering: We would be more than happy to be helpful -- and we'd actually be discreet…

Excuse me?

I think the offer to help is valid. Candidates are well-advised to follow the suggestion and contact bloggers who could put together cogent summaries of the issues, but the promise to do it on the qt? There's nothing wrong with candidates reaching out to multiple sources for information, and there should be nothing wrong with a blogger nothing that he or she provided some information. I think blogging should be about improving transparency, not becoming secret insiders.

Phil | 09.25.06 12:47 PM

So blogrette Christie Hardin Smith chewed fat with Jane (Blackface) Hamscher over raunch-pudding with El Billito... that's finger-waggin' good.

"Substantive" you say? You infer seriousness of purpose from these twits-- pork ignorant of political economy, wilfully dismissing history, engaged only in snide self-dealing without a grain of common sense or even decency? Anti-Semitic racists merit no respect, and to the extent Our Bill scoops up greaseburgers in their company, he's welcome to 'em.

Lawks a-mercy, Christie and Jane, let's hope your burkhas don't wrap too tightly when the time comes to stuff 'em on or cheerfully face beheading in Allah's holy name.

John Blake | 09.25.06 02:37 PM

I'd prefer that blogs stay independent instead of trying to coordinate with political parties. Once I perceive that a blog has no objectivity and is just a tool, I don't read it anymore.

That is why I tend to read blogs that disagree on many issues with the parties that they generally support, like Instapundit. There's nothing more pathetic than a blogger doing all sorts of contortions and gymnastics to try to put their chosen party in the best possible light no matter what the issue.

Neil | 09.25.06 03:36 PM

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