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'Nutpicking' The Comments On Liberal Blogs

Steve Benen of Talking Points Memo said conservatives have a habit of periodically digging for "intemperate" remarks in the comment sections of liberal blogs and citing them to stereotype the entire lefty blogosphere as a place for nuts.

The practice is called "nutpicking," and now Benen said public officials are starting to do it. He linked to a Washington Post story about an attack ad in a state legislative race that is based on comments on a blog.

The Post called it "a new form of negative campaigning in which information for an attack ad is sourced to comments posted on the Internet instead of more authoritative sources such as news reports or public records." The paper quotes Internet expert David Weinberger of Harvard University as saying, ""We have developed a blogosphere that is full of lively debate ... but at the same time we have political marketers who will use anything they can to advance their own cause."

The existence of such "marketers" is why it's a mistake for politicians like John Edwards to hire bloggers with mean-spirited and vulgar reputations. It's one thing to be independently burned by the blogosphere, but it's downright foolhardy to bring them inside the campaign fold.

The increasing likelihood that opportunistic politicians will turn to the blogosphere for ammunition against their foes also is a good argument for better moderation of blog comments.

It's dangerous and silly for politicians to attack bloggers in ads or by any other means; few voters, if any, will be moved by such tactics. On the other hand, bloggers have no one to blame but themselves if those politicians try to score points with voters by calling attention to the crazies in comment sections or in the diaries of online communities like Daily Kos.

Bloggers who don't like nutpicking have the power to stop it, and whining about politicians who are "taking [the practice] onto the air" isn't the way to do it.

UPDATE: Ed Morrissey of Captain's Quarters offers some criticism of nutpicking from the right side of the blogosphere: "[F]or those of us who have run comments sections for a few years and allow (sometimes through gritted teeth) all sorts of criticism and scolding on the blog, making assessments of the blogger by individual comments -- nutpicking -- is both unfair and undermining to the free exchange of ideas on blogs such as Captain's Quarters and TPM. It pressures bloggers to excise comments rather than just respond to them, as the nutpicking never includes those responses."

UPDATE II: The Blogger Relations blog opined, "This looks like a short-lived tactic that may have already backfired."

That may be a bit optimistic as long as politicians see some benefit from nutpicking, be it raising money, energizing their supporters or getting their names in the paper, even in a negative light. Candidates who engage in nutpicking are no more likely to lose votes from bad press about it than the opponents they target with the nutpicking.

Posted by Danny | 12:52 PM

Comments

Your opinions on nutpicking are both informative and interesting. I agree when you argue that attacking bloggers is a “mistake for politicians” because it ruins their credibility, but also because it puts the bloggers in the limelight, and may draw unwanted attention to the very blog that is being denounced. However, while it is possible that few voters will realize the attack ads are “silly” for being sourced to blogs rather than “authoritative sources,” it may be a dangerous assumption to assume all voters will not be swayed by this form of marketing. Candidates are seeking approval from a vast audience, and since attack ads are shown on other forms of entertainment rather than the internet, those viewers that are not as computer-intelligent as bloggers (or other frequent internet users) may not consider the amount of credibility that should be given – or not given – to blogs.

Since the internet does give candidates the potential to raise money and support, it would be unwise for politicians to ignore the blogosphere. Harsh criticism from the public is nothing new; it seems childish for candidates to nutpick as a strategy of opposing – and drawing attention to – the enemy. Understanding that blogs can help and hinder a candidate’s campaign, why not approach the blogosphere with a “can’t beat them, join them” strategy? Candidates may create better publicity by integrating the blogosphere into their campaign rather than using it as a weapon against opposing parties. That way, the blogosphere’s nature of being a “free exchange of ideas” is maintained. Senator Barack Obama is a good example: recently reaching out to bloggers through his own blog, http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/NVHQ/CWtg, Obama created a poll specifically designed to establish a healthy interaction with bloggers and promote positive awareness in the media.

AK | 09.25.07 11:15 AM

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