Chris over at Mason Conservative has a pretty good blow-by-blow of the entire day at the LG’s first annual Bloggers Day. There are other posts out there from other attendees – I’m not going to list them all since I’m sure to miss a couple. Thanks to Jim Hoeft for driving, losing and then finding his keys 🙂 And thanks to that woman who helped us get the out of the locked garage that we returned to around 8:40pm, only to discover that the gates closed at 7pm 😯 .
I had a good time talking with some of the other bloggers, especially Megan, Myron, Shaun and Jason, who we (Jim, Brian Kirwan & I) hooked up with after dinner. We had an interesting discussion, even if we didn’t agree. If nothing else, I think it was proof that folks can disagree without being disagreeable. For the opportunity to hang out with the other bloggers, I have to say thanks to Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling and his staff, especially chief of staff Randy Marcus.
In the course of the conversation last night, one blogger expressed a concern that we as bloggers may inadvertently be comprised by our meeting and being around these elected officials, that because we get to know them a bit, we might be a little less inclined to be hard on them. In addition, in this comment, Claire expresses concern over the fact that this was basically a Republican event. I think these two issues are intertwined and need to be addressed.
First, I understand why Lt. Gov. Bolling made this – with certain exceptions – a Republican-only event: as a candidate for governor in 2009, he needs to get some blogger support. However, I have to say I disagree with the restriction from the standpoint that, in order to win the governor’s mansion, the battle will be for those independent votes, the ones in the middle. Blog readers are smart enough to know which blogs lean left or right. If preaching to the choir were enough to win, the restriction would make sense. But it’s not and it doesn’t. I hope that next year’s event is more inclusive. You can’t make folks come, but you can extend the invitation.
While I have seen LG Bolling speak on a couple of occasions, I wouldn’t say spending a few minutes with him or watching him interact yesterday makes me know him. I know enough folks that do know him – people whose opinions about him I respect – that such limited contact had little effect on my opinion of him. LG Bolling up close and personal is exactly what I expected him to be: a polished and gifted politician, a likable fellow. Were he not so, I doubt that he could have made it this far. What I write about LG Bolling in the future will be based on his positions, not the fact that he may or may not remember my name.
So why did I go? Because LG Bolling is a significant player in the Virginia political landscape and in order for me to write about politics, I have to gather as much information and insight as I can. Unlike some (cough – Kirwan – cough) I’m not a partisan hack. While I am a Democrat and my writing is influenced by that view (an admission, by the way, that the MSM is unwilling to make), I prefer to present the information and let people make up their own minds.
LG Bolling’s likely opponent for the Republican nomination – AG Bob McDonnell – is someone that I met years ago and have been able to watch. LG Bolling only came on my radar in 2005 when he ran for his current position and I think I have a duty to myself and my readers (all three of them) to learn as much about him as I can.
The other reason that I went was because I had a point to make: that this event could be inclusive without any ramifications. Sometimes, you have to show folks that things can be done instead of just telling them.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
An excellent post, Vivian, and thanks for spending some time on the point of whether or not it makes a difference that you’ve been someone’s guest or spent face-time with them. It’s an area in which I think the blog-world (god I hate that term) really needs some time to mature.
Vivian,
If you were to guess right now, who would you say is contemplating a run for Governor on the Democratic side?
MB – thanks. The blog world will mature – when the bloggers get older 🙂 Boyd Marcus asked for folks to raise their hands if they were old enough to vote in 1980 – the year he ran his first campaign. I think mine was the only hand to go up 😦
SB – no guesses needed 😉 That would be Creigh Deeds and Brian Moran.
Vivian, it was wonderful to see you again, and you make an excellent point:
I will have to remember that and keep a close eye on his positions on issues. Just because I admire him and his demeanor does not mean I can slack off in holding him accountable. As you and I are both very much aware, all people are fallible and imperfect. Thank you for the reminder!
At any rate, I enjoyed it, and am hoping to bring the Darling Munchkin up next year so she can start cutting her teeth on the political landscape. I want her to be a shrewd and skeptical citizen when she grows up!
Best blessings, and looking forward to seeing you later this year!
— Kat
http://www.CatHouseChat.com
Vivian:
I understand why Bolling had the event and what he hoped to gain from it. He’s hoping to develop the choir.
The question I raised, unanswered here, though is how the bloggers who participated in this event see or define themselves. MSM journalists would not attend a selective, invitation only briefing session and a dinner paid for by the person they were covering.
The applicable section of the Code of Ethics of professional journalists:
Act Independently
Journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public’s right to know.
Journalists should:
—Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.
— Remain free of associations and activities that may compromise integrity or damage credibility.
— Refuse gifts, favors, fees, free travel and special treatment, and shun secondary employment, political involvement, public office and service in community organizations if they compromise journalistic integrity.
— Disclose unavoidable conflicts.
— Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable.
— Deny favored treatment to advertisers and special interests and resist their pressure to influence news coverage.
— Be wary of sources offering information for favors or money; avoid bidding for news.
So, bloggers who attended the event on the terms offered … selective invites/free food … probably don’t choose to define themselves as “journalists,” at least as that term is commonly understood, right?
What then is a blogger who willingly accepts “gifts” of special access and free food as a part of the trade? A “diarist.” perhaps? Or, more appropriately in some cases, an unapologetic advocate?
First of all, MSM “journalists” violate those rules routinely, in my opinion. Secondly, this was no “briefing.” Perhaps that was the original intent but it didn’t turn out that way. Finally, I don’t think a $20 dinner would compromise anybody. Besides, everyone who attended paid their own transportation costs as well as their for own lunch, which no doubt far exceeded the cost of dinner.
Claire, chill. Shun political involvement? yeah…bloggers do that.
Journalists are paid and have expense accounts. Bloggers infuse opinions in everything we write.
And if you think Vivian is gonna be wearing a Bill Bolling sticker because she ate a meal, I’m laughing all day long thinking about it.
It was nice to meet you, Vivian, and everyone else over at Richbrau. Sorry I missed the big festivities. Maybe next time…
Kat – it was good seeing you as well. I’m glad that you are going to try to adhere to that idea.
Jason – it was a pleasure.
Vivian,
It was interesting to see the reaction from Sen. Obenshain when you piped up about the withholding. I think he was caught off guard not knowing that there are people in all professional fields out there blogging.
All in all, this was the best day I have ever spent at the GA. It beats LHR, and the Chamber Day hands down. Just enough structure to be an official “event” but much more informal, beefy in discussion and question & answer.
Bill Bolling is a smart guy….and wants to show respect to bloggers and at least earn some modicum of good opinion. While I admit to a closer relationship to Bill Bolling than alot of other VA Republicans, I fully expect all of the bloggers to hold his feet to the fire–and so does he. It shows he is smart enough to know we are a true political force.
Anyway….we have not finished the Norfolk Politics discussion. Dinner at Freemason, on me as the winner of that bet!
Obenshain didn’t get the memo that all bloggers are not 21-year-old pencil-neck geeks 🙂 If he had been there for Del. Hugo’s remarks, he would have known that. I didn’t mean to call him out – and I hope he didn’t take offense – but sometimes, you gotta take the opportunity to let those making the rules know how it affects the people. LG Bolling made it a point to speak to me about that.
We’ll have to schedule that dinner 😉