Why does the NDP ignore their stable of bloggers? Maybe because there is some terrible static that would prevent the NDP from getting any sort of coherent message out via bloggers.Does the NDP use bloggers to get the message out? Apparently not:
It started over the weekend with a single post from "Northern BC Dipper," a self-described "proud New Democrat" in northern British Columbia.
"Most of the time I don't like to blame party staff for party setbacks, but I've gotten to the conclusion that Brad Lavigne, Director of Communications for the NDP, should be fired," he began. The blogger then proceeded to blame Lavigne for what he saw as a series of media misjudgements on everything from the party's position on Afghanistan to its treatment of newly elected Liberal Leader Stephane Dion.
Within hours, the initial post was followed up by the ringleader of the unofficial NDP blogroll, Robert McClelland, who made his feeliings clear in a post titled "Bring Me the Head of Brad Lavigne." McClelland's complaint was that, unlike the two main federal parties, the NDP is at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to getting its message out - and it was failing to take advantage of people like him.
"The NDP’s complete disregard for bloggers - something that Mr. Lavigne was only too happy to point out during the last election campaign - has put them even further behind than they already were when it comes to media messaging," McClelland wrote. "If any party desperately needs bloggers, it’s the NDP. They have no one going to bat for them in the mainstream media. The Conservatives have their stable of Ezra Levants and the Liberals have their Warren Kinsellas. Who does the NDP have? Right, nobody."
Do you see the problem? One thoughtful NDP blogger makes an interesting point, and soon after the "ringleader" McClelland sucks the air out of the room, making sure that attention is focused on him.
The NDP's problem? They don't use McClelland enough. If they only used McClelland. McClelland, McClelland, McClelland.
Curious how when there is a discussion about the NDP and blogging, McClelland gets himself into the middle of it. This is a shame, because McClelland runs an awful excuse for a political blog and that sets the tone for the group. McClelland seems incapable of understanding the difference between disagreeing and demeaning. Political disagreements can become quite emotional, and everyone is guilty of saying or writing something that, in retrospect, was mean-spirited and did not add to the debate. But McClelland does it routinely and seemingly without emotion. It's almost like punctuation with him. When I write about the NDP, I call them "the NDP" or "Canada's left". When McClelland writes about Conservatives, they are "right whingers" or "right wankers" or, for the fairer sex, "skanks".
How does someone who treats others with such rudeness see himself as the host of the Canadian Blog Awards? It's just link bait, of course. A way of getting traffic. That's why I won't participate, despite being nominated.
As long as McClelland is allowed to head up the Blogging Dippers, I doubt the NDP blogs will ever amount to much. No serious political party would want to be associated with McClelland. It's a shame, but the rest of the NDP bloggers are suffering as a result. No party wants to be making apologies for what some blogger has said on their behalf. Each party carefully selects the means by which they get their message out to avoid having the message clouded by the medium. I'm sure that the NDP has carefully avoided blogs, and probably because any message sent via the blogs would be overshadowed by McClelland's "contribution".
Warren Kinsella, as skilled a political communicator as they come, and a great blogger to boot, certainly has a special place for My Blahg:
Worst blog: On both sides of the ideological spectrum, something called "My Blahg," operated by NDP supporter Robert McClelland, was viscerally loathed. This may be explained by McClelland's willingness to post items headlined "Fuck the Jews," and describe Israelis as "murderers." A blot on the blogosphere and, possibly, the human race.
So to the NDP bloggers who are wondering why the NDP is not using them as a means of getting the message out, stop blaming the NDP communications people. That's too easy. Ask yourself, instead, whether there is a reason why NDP blogs are not seen as an effective means of communication.
One reason is that there is too much static on the NDP blogging line. No one would ever be able to hear the message. Eliminate the source of the static, and things might just change.
Good luck.
Update #1: As if my point needed proving, the friendly advice I'm giving to the NDP bloggers to sharpen up and to stop acting in an embarrassing manner is rewarded by an NDP blogger calling me a turd. Which blogger? McClelland, of course. Does he refute my argument in any way? Of course not. Just the name-calling.
Update #2: On the other hand, I focus on calling out the silly content of their blogs, and not on calling them names.
