Democrats, Do You Know Where Your Money Is Going?
What is the role of a Communications Director for a major state party?
Apparently Rick Gion of the North Dakota Democratic Party believes it is to go after bloggers.
This Communications Director spends his days trolling blogs and attacking bloggers. Do the finacial donors of his party realize what they are paying him to do?
Here are some examples of the great productivity he has given his party:
Thursday, August 24, 2006 – Right wing blogger against helping North Dakota’s farmers and ranchers
Tuesday, August 01, 2006 – Outrageous Comments from Republican Bloggers
Democrats should demand to know what their party officials are spending their time on. But maybe ND Democrats don’t care about how their money is spent since it really isn’t their money. Most of it seems to come from out-of-state interests.
As I posted on my blog today:
“In an amazing statement by the Communications Director, Rick Gion, of the North Dakota Democratic has singled out and denounced the opinion of a blogger. Will the Democratic Party offically come out against the 1st Amendment?
Time will tell.”
Crossposted from FreeRepublicans.com
Rob adds: You do have to love the idea of the North Dakota Democrats using all their big-time out-of-state-money to pay a communications director to attack the opinions of a private North Dakota citizen.
Who are these people representing again?
Rob adds again: Looks like Gion isn’t even paid by the North Dakota Democrats. He’s paid by the national Democrats.
To blog? No one.
Outside of my “real job” that I do get paid for, can you honestly say that I’m a party schill? Honestly now!
Well, Kos isn’t a mouthpiece of the DNC either, he’s actively trying to take over the DNC.
Gion is being paid by the DNC, and using the North Dakota Dem’s Official Blog to go after private individual.
Rob, Brett, and myself are not elected individuals, nor are we candidates – thus regardless of our paying positions, we are still private citizens.
The fact that the Dems are OFFICIALLY calling each of us out shows to their unprofessionalism (and our party’s ineffectiveness of promoting our own candidates, but that’s a whole different issue.)
See, fair AND balanced.
Ok, even if you don’t consider yourself a journalist, what you do is seen publicly. Just like many of the other concerned citizens actions/words are. Many of them are also picked out for the spotlight by officials on both sides.
My point is that I think it’s a bit of a overreach to say that he shouldn’t be saying things about you on the official DNC blog. Free seems to have taken it to a bit of an extreme.
I agree with Rob on this one, getting singled out like he did means that he poked the right coal. Unlike many of us, he got heard. That’s something.
Bloggers nationwide are fighting for recognition as press. Here, Rob enjoyes a few of the perks. A trip to Arkansas comes to mind. I’m not saying it’s wrong. In fact I think it’s great for Rob. However, if a member of the mainstream media made comments like those that Rob made (which I agree with) I think that it would be expected by the Dems for the Dem Communications Director to take that mainstream media outlet to task over it. So, why is it so wrong for him to do so in this case.
Exactly.
When they single any of us out, it means we are all doing our jobs…well, maybe not our jobs, but we’re doing something right.
Free: It also shows that you guys hit a nerve or two. If you were really just blowing smoke, they would ignore you. Good going!
It seems to be more of a political diary than it is a newspaper…but then again…the media doesn’t do a great job of journalism at all…
IRONY is in the air!
FreepRepublican, who pays you?
…this group?
..kinda reminds me of your “I’m against minimum wage but since we already have one I think we should raise it” postition on the minimum wage billed recently passed by congress.
diffrent to what you are doing, but very much the same thing the RNC IS DOING.
“A trip to Arkansas” sounds more like punishment than perk to me. ha ha
Because his site says right on it ” North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party Blog”.
What he says on there is as official as a Press Release.
What I say on mine is just my opinion.
Very different!
WHY can’t one conclude that, as like you, he actually does it as a ‘hobby’?
“Who are these people representing again?”
People that wish to silence the opposition one little man at a time?
Yep, Free, look who’s calling the kettle black. I have no problem with it as you knew I wouldn’t. I haven’t complained about you blogging in your role as a party employee so why should you complain?
Also, I think it’s a bit foolish for bloggers to classify themselves as journalists. We’re not journalists.
Well, maybe some bloggers are. I like to think of myself as a concerned citizen. At most, a semi-pro commentator.
That trip to Arkansas was paid for out of my own pocket. All I was offered by Wal-Mart was the chance to attend. And a small gift bag filled with a bottle of water and some chocolate bars. Cheap bastards.
As for the Dem communications director coming after me, I don’t ahve a problem with it. Obviously I’m making my points. If I were as irrelevant as he’d like everyone to believe he wouldn’t have to waste his time with me.