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Googling: A Synonym For 'Stalking'

Well, at least I'm assuming that's the definition in the netroots handbook because Todd Beeton of MyDD today accused conservative blogger Michelle Malkin of stalking for daring to use Google to fact-check CNN.

Beeton's attack against Malkin for uncovering and disclosing the political affiliations of the video questioners at last night's CNN/YouTube debate of Republican candidates is bizarre for multiple reasons:

1) Beeton, Malkin and and bloggers of all political stripes routinely use Google to fact-check journalists, politicians and even each other. Smart journalists and politicians do the same. Why is it all of a sudden "stalking"?

2) The fact-checking that Malkin and other bloggers are doing is obviously aimed at CNN, not the questioners. The network botched the debate big time, making a mockery of objective journalism, and it deserved to be called out -- especially in light of CNN's pre-debate suggestion that it was trying to moderate the debate in a way that would help Republican voters pick a candidate.

3) CNN should have done its own research. Remember, the network has insisted time and again that it must filter the questions rather than bestow that power on the Internet community (including those untrustworthy, pajama-clad loons we know as bloggers) because only CNN knows how to make sure a debate is fair and balanced. Live by the filter, die by the filter when it fails, I say.

4) CNN's partner in the debate was YouTube. YouTube's parent company is Google. Ironically, CNN could have used the valuable tool created by its partner to conduct the necessary due diligence.

5) One of the cardinal rules of the blogosphere is disclosure. Bloggers believe it's OK to have what some readers might consider conflicts of interest as long as those conflicts are acknowledged. They weren't in this case, and they should have been.

The take-away: Malkin and bloggers aren't stalking the people whose questions made it onto the air for the debate; they are behaving like the journalists that CNN's political team should have been. In this instance, they deserve praise, not scorn, even from people like Beeton who disagree philosophically.

Posted by Danny | 08:06 PM

Comments

Remember, Malkin was already on the stalking "list" for looking into the SCHIP family.

The left is just laying the groundwork for criminalizing conservatism.

mockmook | 11.29.07 09:59 PM

So, the leftroots started this stalking when they went after the Washington Post, uncovering plagiarism of their conservative blogger?

Anyways, I use google. I guess we are all stalkers now.

Peach | 11.29.07 10:37 PM

In my line of work, I often get phone calls from journalists who seek input on industry trends/events. From now on I will assume they are stalking me.

dpt | 11.30.07 12:20 AM

When the right does it: "stalking", "Swift boating"

When the left does it: "whistle-blowing" "Speaking Truth to Power"

When does the public not have the right to know? When a Democrat does it!

When a Dem smuggles out Top Secret documents from the National Archives in his pants... well, that's a private matter and in no way means that Sandy Burger shouldn't be on Hilary's team.

When a Senator taps his foot in an airport bathroom... well, that's a national issue and Craig should resign.

zach | 11.30.07 01:28 AM

Bloggers, Doing the job Journalists Won't!

Dan Maloney | 11.30.07 05:31 AM

We are on the front lines of a fight between good and evil. If the wrong person wins, basic political conduct - basic social conduct - may be criminalized. Time to trot out a (re-worked) JFK speech:

Two thousand years ago, the proudest boast was "civis Romanus sum!" Today in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is "Ich bin ein stalker!"

Steve Thomas | 11.30.07 07:00 AM

The Lefty-haters screeching for victim status? Now that is unusual.

DANEgerus | 11.30.07 10:27 AM

...CNN's pre-debate suggestion that it was trying to moderate the debate in a way that would help Republican voters pick a candidate

Well, sure...it's not like they suggested they were trying to help them pick a Republican candidate.

snowedin | 11.30.07 12:45 PM

Excellent commentary, Danny.

Thomas | 11.30.07 01:07 PM

While the list of "plant's" continues to grow (I believe we are at 8-9 at the moment) from the CNN/YouTube debate, it is clear CNN was deliberately trying to deceive the American public. That, or they out-sourced children from the local elementary school to push mouses and bang keyboards for their material.

But, I don't think Anderson Cooper was involved in this obvious act of journalistic sabotage. Cooper needs to make a larger stand against the garbage displayed from the debate. The guy can find work anywhere. He should "Man Up."

Cool_Shades | 11.30.07 01:17 PM

The debators agreed to the format and to the moderators. CNN is responsible for questions, but why are the Republicans such victims here. Get up off the floor now, I'm tired of it.

Maybe the candidates should "man-up" and admit that they want the questions in their way from their people.

Snore. This is a non-story.

cgp | 11.30.07 02:26 PM

cgp,

With all due respect, this is a story. I question the journalistic integrity of CNN. Others question the journalistic integrity of CNN. At best, it's sloppy work. At worst, it's political sabotage to deceive and distort the American people.

Geez, is it too much to trust the word of a major and world-wide news organization. CNN says everything went well. The rest of the U.S. news media talks about major vetting issues. I'd like to know what the deal is.

Cool_Shades | 11.30.07 04:50 PM

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