I like to watch campaign blogs. They aren't on my blogroll but there are a number I check in with frequently. Some allow comments, some don't. In one race two primary opponents have blogs on their campaign pages. Both allow comments. Both have had untoward comments left. One deleted them. In that case the commenter questioned the candidate's position, not in the most gracious way, but it was a remark and question on something that had been in the paper. The comment disappeared. On the other blog someone has left what they no doubt consider spurious comments on the candidate's personal life, with no supporting evidence, just a drive by "you're gay." It says a lot more about the person writing the comment than the candidate. The comments were not removed. That says a lot about the candidate. So, Andy Warren, if you're going to erase comments that question you, what are you going to do when questioned at townhall meetings? So, Team (Patrick) Murphy, classy move.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
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2 comments:
You should know that now, Andy's blog, instead of deleting comments that argue legitimate points of dissent, all comments get sent to the moderator for approval before posting.
So much for run of the mill progressive values like free speech and prohibitions of prior restraints.
There is an important point to be made here. Owners of blogs can choose to have comments or not. They can even choose to delete comments, especially if they are abusive, obscene, etc. and the blog has put its readers on notice that such comments will be shot on sight.
What is real problematic is when a political candidate is using their blog, which seems to invite a good dose of discourse by allowing unfettered comments, as a means to fraudulently effect the public's view of the candidate.
This is the kind of stuff that you would see from the blog at GOP.com. If it doesn't fit the message, than it isn't worth the space. This is fitting coming from a candidate who resided in the anti-progressive halls of the GOP for his whole life up to this point.
I had one of my comments deleted and, at least to me, it seemed to raise fair questions about Andy Warren's honesty. To delete my comments and others like it is a regressive attempt to stifle dissent at best, and, more likely and much worse, an attempt to dupe the voters in Bucks County into thinking that everyone just adores Andy Warren and hates Patrick Murphy (which is far from the truth).
For a candidate that claims to be a born again progressive, Andy should be ashamed. Kudos to Murphy and his blog for being able to listen and deal with dissenting opinions that are vital to the national discourse.
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