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What you are about to read was difficult for me to write because it opens me up to accusations of petty jealousy, which is not the intent.
But as a progressive state blogger, the credibility of blogs and other New Media adventures is important to me, especially given the lamentable condition of our traditional media. So when I see something that, at first blush, anyway, appears dishonest, especially in the Granite State blogopshere, I can't let it go without comment.
Take a look at this website, Blue Hampshire. Note the "Blue" in the title, a common color reference to the "left" side of politics, the "Democratic" side, the "liberal" side. Take a gander at our advertisements. The things written from the 1500+ members of our community. Note that right under our logo, it says "A progressive online community for the Granite State." There's no mistaking what we are.
Now head on over to our worthy alter ego, Granite Grok. Okay, so maybe you can't tell right away from the banner, but certainly from the ads, the writing, and the blogroll, you know in about a half a minute that you are on a conservative New Hampshire blog. And that's great, if that's your thing.
Now (heh), check out the shiny new Now Hampshire. Looks interesting! Seems like an online news outlet, ala PolitickerNH. Cool - the more, the merrier. Oh, wait a minute:
Become a reporter and submit your own stories to NOW! Hampshire
So really it's like a blog-newspaper, or something. Let's see what the citizen reporters have come up with in "Top Stories Submitted by Our Reporters", starting off with something from "editor":
Sununu: Shaheen Lacks Credibility on Key Issues
Okay, well, here's another from "editor":
Shea-Porter Seen as Vulnerable
and again from "editor":
Iraq War Supporter Shaheen Attacks Sununu on War
But my personal favorite is the odd post about Jay Buckey leaving the race. Why write about something that happened months ago? Maybe so you can throw in "reporting" like this:
Buckey's departure started the rumor mill churning that another, more prominent Democratic challenger to presumptive nominee Jeanne Shaheen might enter the race. Many Democrats are still angry at Shaheen's husband Bill's racially-tinged attack on presidential candidate Barack Obama in December.
and in a post called "Source: Expect another Dem in Senate Race", this:
In December, Mr. Shaheen introduced the subject of Sen. Barack Obama's drug use into the Democratic contest by claiming Republicans would use the issue against Obama should he win the nomination.
...Sources tell Now! Hampshire that the issue still enrages Obama supporters in the Granite State and that they are actively seeking a viable challenger to Jeanne Shaheen in the Senate race.
"There is an overwhelming sense that the Shaheen machine cannot be rewarded for their bad behavior," the source said. "And so we will recruit an alternative and put the power of Obamamania behind that candidate."
This is a dishonest blog. It dresses up blog opinion in news clothing, and hides its right-wing agenda in a non-partisan veneer. And putting up a Shaheen interview from a well-known McCain supporter is a nice touch for "balance", but it's a fig leaf for what's really going on here.
I could be wrong. Maybe we're all meant to sign up as users and shape it into the content the community settles on. But given the examples cited above, it really strikes me as a fairly involved astroturfing project to give the impression of balance to right-wing stories and to lure unsuspecting neutral readers into Drudge-style "sources say" seeds of dissent that have no links to back it up.
If Now Hampshire continues to operate the way it looks like today, it will do damage to the credibility of blogs on the left and right.
Far better if its founder, "long time Republican operative and consultant" Patrick Hynes, were up front about the nature of its content, as he is on his other right-wing blog, Ankle Biting Pundits.
Update: This is rich. Powerline (boldface mine):
Thus, it's timely that our friend, and New Hampshire native, Patrick Hynes of the McCain campaign has launched (in his spare time, I suppose) a news site dedicated to the Granite State. He calls it Now! Hampshire.
It's devoted to news, not opinion, and the stories are not limited to politics.
Late Update:That Tall Guy reminds me of this older story in the comments. Really interesting at this particular given who the GOPer nominee is.
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