Thu 26 Jan 2006
Jill @ Writes Like She Talks had an interesting sitdown with ODP Chair Chris Redfern. The topic of blogs and their influence on local Democratic politics came up, especially as it relates to Paul Hackett and the Ohio 2nd special election:
…we spoke about many topics, including blogs, bloggers and blogging.
If he were in a position akin to that of a media placement advisor for a corporation, but doing so for a politician, what percentage of a budget did he think blogs would get?
Zero. Unequivocally.
Did he think Paul Hackett or Howard Dean would say the same?
No direct answer, but we talked about how Hackett’s juggernaut experience in the Ohio 2nd race and Dean’s fundraising successes aren’t really parallel to the question I asked, but do represent the burgeoning use of a media that Redfern agreed was in its infancy and as such, not really a known quantity yet.
He stated at least a couple of times his belief that in 4-6-8 years, the story re: blogs may very well be entirely different.
It’s interesting to me how much Ken Blackwell and the Ohio Republicans have embraced the blogosphere and are using it to shape their message and on the other side we have the Democrats sticking to email press releases, and press conferences with the usual bunch of reporters that turn everthing into mush. The results are that outsiders such as our very own Ohio 2nd blog control all the space. Since Democrats outside of the Party are very frustrated with the Party, the results are a liberal blogosphere who’s tenor is surprise very frustrated, angry and bitter.
I do agree with the Chairman. Things will be very different in 4-6-8 years.
ADDED: This thread is also running over @ BSB.
5 Responses to “Redfern Staying Out Of The Blogosphere (UPDATED)”
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January 26th, 2006 at 10:54 am
BTW, if I start getting too frustrated, angry, and bitter just knock me upside the head.
January 26th, 2006 at 11:13 am
But Sauter and the Blue Buckeye Blog are so influential!
January 26th, 2006 at 2:00 pm
Do I recall having seen a posting on this blog regarding effects of blogs or the percentages?
Being involved in the web and the world of blogs, I have to remind myself that very few folks read the blogs (yet alone comment). Folks are not like “us”, sneak looks on the blogs from the office and then, when we get home from work, we get on-line. They are busy with family and TV. We are busy with reading blogs. Ask my partner, I would rather blog than watch TV anyday! But, we are a small percentage and we have a small effect on the voters.
January 26th, 2006 at 5:09 pm
The thing is that blogs are natural connectors (see social networking theory). They shape perceptions because other people use them for references to events, especially people in politics and the media. We are social animals. We react to what others say and do. When someone on a blog writes about something, everyone who reads it is effected by their perceptions of things, weather they like it or not.
For instance, I know that when I talk about Jean Schmidt it filters back to her campaign. They can’t help it. They’re human. As I liked to say to her former campaign manager. It’s like a had a Bat Phone sitting right on his desk that I could use 24/7. I knew not many people were reading my blog, but I also knew that he was one of them.
January 27th, 2006 at 2:37 am
[…] Had to comment on this before I hit hay. Jill’s post about her meeting with Chris Redfern got some reaction from a couple of prominent lefty bloggers (OH02 and BSB). Like others have pointed out, Jill’s stuff is always well written and entertaining. There is more there than Redfern’s dismissal but we bloggers like to focus first on getting slapped in the face with the white glove of establishmentality: If he were in a position akin to that of a media placement advisor for a corporation, but doing so for a politician, what percentage of a budget did he think blogs would get? […]