Comments on: Blogger Conference Call – Steve Schmidt on the Alito Nomination

By: Mark

Mark — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 15:33:36 +0000

Okay, Peter, fair enough…but the RNC is not engaged in anything inappropriate here…they are trying to influence public opinion by reaching out to bloggers, plain and simple. It’s just smart politics, and there is nothing remotely unethical about it…

By: Peter Porcupine

Peter Porcupine — Sun, 06 Nov 2005 04:34:28 +0000

Knemon – don’t play Mickey the Dunce with Merrkin, it’s a valid question. How much of Rove’s time is dedicated to political, as opposed to legislative or executive matters? There are Hatch Act restrictions on this.

I don’t see reaching out top bloggers as being any different from the Press Secretary speaking to MSM reporters.

But Mark, whining ‘they started it!’ is a particulary weak response. I DO go to the DNC web site. IF they choose to jump off a bridge, that’s no reason to follow them.

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 20:44:41 +0000

Merkin, you have a sadly outdated view of the media if you feel that blogger outreach is a waste of time…old and new media are necessary in today’s political climate. But really, your outrage that the Republican National Committee would involve itself in a Supreme Court nomination is touchingly naive. Why don’t you take a little stroll down to the DNC website sometime before you come around here casting stones?

By: Knemon

Knemon — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 20:22:57 +0000

“But I am also someone who demands the proper use of tax dollars.”

Uh … the RNC doesn’t run on tax dollars.

By: Merkin

Merkin — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 19:25:03 +0000

Mark,

Are you familiar with the US Constitution? The appointment and approval of a Supreme Court nominee is laid out in the constitution as an affair dealing with the Executive and Legislative branches–not parties.

Parties are organized to recruit and elect candidates–not govern. The US is not a parliamentary system.

This blurring of the lines is especially troubling in light of government employees doing political work on government time. Last year, Bush called Rove the “architect” of his re-election campaign, yet–despite numerous requests from taxpayer rights groups–the White House has yet to produce an accounting of Rove’s separation of duties during the campaign. He gets more than $150,000 a year from the government and shouldn’t be doing political work.

I am a republican, by the way. But I am also someone who demands the proper use of tax dollars. I will also question future donations to the party since they are getting out of their duties by setting up phone calls with a bunch of bloggers–a waste of time no matter who is paying!

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 05 Nov 2005 00:48:54 +0000

Ummm, Merkin – with all due respect – I have no clue how to answer that question…are you familiar with our political system? George W. Bush is a Republican – The RNC wants to support him…that’s how things work…

By: Merkin

Merkin — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 23:54:30 +0000

he was kind enough to speak with some bloggers today in another in a series of conference calls arranged by the great Patrick Ruffini, now with the RNC’s eCampaign efforts.

Why is a political party involved in a governmental matter?