and a real turnoff.
It is a rare occurrence around here for me to criticize a blogger, let alone waste my time on some "flame war" in a combox. My attitude has always been that bloggers are entitled to their own opinions, and if their opinions continue to be opposite my opinions - I don't go there anymore. Now my actions might be different if someone publicly smeared me, but I'm such an unimportant little cog in the blogoshpere, the possibilities of that happening are not very high.
This morning, however, Gateway Pundit published a clip of Obama at yet another fundraiser being heckled by someone screeching that "Jesus is God", and (I think) accusing Obama of being the anti-Christ. Mr. Hoft's headline was "Nice, The Left Boos Jesus at Obama Fundraiser." (video included in post)
Really? You don't think they may have just been shouting down a very rude person who was making an ass of himself? How about this? Perhaps the guy was a lefty plant. In any event, shouting about Jesus like some sort of lunatic is not the best way to get your message across.
For Mr. Hoft to post a misleading headline is not the best way to get the conservative message out and just gives fodder for the loony left to feed on. Mr. Hoft says, "You know how the left made such a big fuss over the fact that a couple of Republicans booed a gay soldier at the last Republican primary debate?", which we knew was not the truth - so maybe, just maybe he was indulging in a sarcastic comparison. If so, it failed.
I believe that when a conservative blogger moves into the upper stratospheres of traffic, they have a responsibility to not sensationalize, like some tabloid at the check-out counter in a grocery store, in order to increase their hit counters. This is what the left is famous for. Bloggers who do this lose their credibility and eventually their traffic. On the other hand, I'm just one of those little cogs, so what I think means nothing.
What do you think?
7 comments:
Maybe you are not at the top of the heap..neither am I. And I can be accused of sensationalizing--if biting satire is sensational...but you nailed this one on the head. This guy WAS a plant of one form or another and the spin put on by Mr. Hoft did nothing to advance the conservative cause or Christian values...well done!
Scott - you may think you are a "little cog" but you have a couple of the prettiest sites, evah!
Amen. I've left a few sites because of the over-the-top treatment of what would boil down to a questionable action. It does absolutely n-o-t-h-i-n-g in maintaining credibility.
You are right on. After Hot Air and Ed in particular was in the tank for Perry non-stop, I moved away. Hey, it was nice he publishes links for folks, but.. the blog has slipped.
I agree with this post and everyone else. My newest hero, Anthony Sutton, said that our facts (ones exposing socialism etc.) have to be rock solid because if we ever loose one ounce of credibility, all of our work becomes questionable.
Whether you're a big or little cog, a little class goes a long way and is a big-time witness for the faith.
Hoft does tend to use the sensational headlines....sometimes they are not as advertised....but I like him on the whole and his headlines serve the purpose....they drive traffic and get people talking, like we are ;-)
Bunni - it's one thing to print a sensational title and back it up with facts. This post of his didn't pass muster. And when the traffic drys up, how much good will he do?
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