Politics and Culture

About a month ago, some people (..cough..Hugh Hewitt..cough...) made hay about Barack Obama saying that he didn't "want his daughters punished with a baby." I knew what Obama meant and didn't mention it here or in serious conversation with my liberal friends- the statement was just a dumb way of saying that an unplanned pregnancy inconveniences a girl's life. In other words, I cut him some slack (not that he was especially relieved or anything).

Obama might be our president. I don't want to spend the next four years hating my president, constantly sniping at him like so many of my left brothers have done with our current commander in chief. As a consequence, I developed some rules for my blogging that I think will keep me sane and loving regardless of what happens in November. Also, maybe, just maybe, if people stick to something similar to what I describe below, political and cultural discussions would be more substantive and the ever mud-mired "tone" may experience some uplift.

Blogging Code of Conduct

1. Don't criticize the other guy for something, that if done by your guy, you wouldn't mind enough to withdraw your support (Don't be a hypocrite.).

Would you not vote for McCain had he sought help from a shady character to purchase a home? If you still would, be quiet about Obama.

Do you really care if a candidate flips on some issues to suit the temperament of the moment?

Why do ideologues who'd vote for their party's candidate if his previous job had been knee-capping old ladies for their social security checks pretend to care about things they really don't? Because they're shills. Their audience isn't other hyper-partisans, but the squishy undecided voters who can't tell Tom Tancredo from Dennis Kucinich but know that: "He's a liar," "He doesn't wear a flag pin," or, recently, "He wants to take my babies." What about people suggesting that Obama doesn't like Muslims because a staffer replaced headscarved Muslim girls with a more vital demographic? Do people really think that Obama hates Muslims?

That's not to say that we shouldn't have any standards- just be sincere.

2. Everybody makes gaffes:

If McCain had said that he's visited "57 states with one to go," would you stay home for the election? Would most Republicans call him stupid (Actually, many do now.)?

3. Seemingly disqualifying characteristics:

How likely would it be to hear a partisan Democrat say: "I'm not voting for any ticket with Jim Webb because Webb has a temper."

Do you think Arianna Huffington wouldn't vote for Ted Kennedy because he's too old? Do you think Brent Bozell wouldn't vote for Bobby Jindal or Sarah palin because they're too inexperienced?

Bush's speaking style? Most left Democrats would vote for Mel Tillis if he promised single-payer health care.

Scandalmongering:

Going through people's trash, figuratively and literally, destroys the trash digger's soul primarily, but negatively affects the nation too, as the prospective candidate pool evaporates and the dialog coarsens.

Lying, promoting unverified memes, etc. go without saying.

Exceptions to the above would be to point out hypocrisy on the other side ("What would happen if a Republican had said that?"), although even that can get silly fast:

"Your guy is a liar."

"Oh yeah. What about your guy. In 1994, he..."

"He just did that for...In 2003, your guy..."

Jokes are within bounds (no Nazi stuff or photoshopped porn) as is anything that doesn't imply you really care about the alleged transgression if you really don't.

Anyways, if there are any bloggers who want to start a "Fair Blogging Alliance," let me know. If you're familiar with graphics and logos, that would be great.

Tags: blogging associations, blogging ethics, blogging groups, fair blogging, fair political criticism