Rebuilding The Right Whether McCain Wins Or Loses

October 30, 2008 / 12:26 am • By Dr. Melissa Clouthier

My co-blogger at Right Wing News, John Hawkins has been thinking about this topic. So has Jon Henke. Really, many of us have been pondering the direction of the Right on-line politically. Patrick Ruffini comments about John’s idea to pay bloggers so they could make a living at this business:

But here’s the caveat to Hawkins’s idea: the money would need to go to bloggers committed to making a difference in the political process, not someone who is going to provide the 256th (and wittiest!) insta-reaction to Sarah Palin’s wardrobe on Memeorandum. These people would have to be willing to find races, travel to them, and self-consciously think of themselves as full-time political activists who happen to blog, not mere bloggers.

Here’s the problem:
Bloggers on the Left may well be content to make $30K a year blogging. Many prominent bloggers on the Right have day jobs–this blogger included. And the notion of giving up my job, which I love by the way, to blog for much less money for much more effort, is not exactly appealing.

In addition, my contact with people gives me a perspective. It’s real world. It keeps me grounded. It broadens my perspective. Not to mention, it’s a business where I get a feedback, like right now, about how government health care, insurance, tax, and privacy policies practically apply.

I’m thinking of influential bloggers on the Right and most of them have a profession which is also why they are writing smarter takes:

Lawyers: Glenn Reynolds, Ann Althouse, the guys at Powerline, Gina Cobb, Stephen Bainbridge
Economists: Maxed Out Mama, Megan McArdle
Doctors/Psychologists: Dr. Helen, Dr. Pat Santy
Teachers/Professors: Dr. Sanity, Betsy Newmark, Jeff Goldstein, Glenn Reynolds
Soldiers: Too many to list
Writers: Lileks, The Anchoress, Kaus

There are a whole host of bloggers making a living blogging–Michelle Malkin and her guys at HotAir, Ace (I’m guessing), Charles Johnson of LGF, Jim Hoft aka Gateway Pundit and even John Hawkins.

Still, everyone listed seem to be informed commentators who are increasingly serving as investigators, fact-checkers, and journalists. Patrick Ruffini himself mentions that he’s employed elsewhere.

It seems to me, this falls to the younger generation then–college students, recent grads and young people who would like to be in politics or journalists but do not want to be part of the MSM ideological milieu. How do they become more cohesive and active? How do established bloggers help these younger people who may well make a career doing investigative journalism or political activism exclusively via the web?

Fox News has featured the work of two young women who are doing yeoman’s work investigating voter fraud in Ohio. Their work has bubbled up through the media but do they have a way to perhaps continue their mission after graduation–perhaps using new media as a tool for local activism. Additionally, is there a way for them to make a living doing it?

Money is at issue and organization. The second idea first: Republicans have a big tent. Big. Tent. And, those who choose to come in the tent are independent. Unlike the Borg-like monolith that is the on-line Left where ideological purity is valued and dissent is squelched, the online-Right has wide ranging opinions, nuance if you will, on nearly every topic. Many on the Right simply like being lone-guns. They are individualistic and resistant to group-think. (Thankfully!) It does make building a cohesive online coalition daunting.

And then, there’s money. Since many bloggers on the Right view their blogging as a hobby, they don’t think in terms of money–1) asking for it for themselves or 2) asking people to donate to campaigns. Many are concerned about the national stage and ignore the local political machinations. I know I have. But if this election has proven anything, politics is local, local, local. Republicans need a stronger bench and need to support the strength that waits in the wings. And there is strength there, but those people will need money and visibility and support to make it to the next level.

Bloggers can do this. Bloggers are doing this. The Right will have to use a different model for using new media to be the grassroots effort than the Left has used. I just don’t see a Kos-like cult building on the Right. Not the same way. Still, an organic, loose affiliation and information sharing network is a good start. Twitter has actually helped me in this regard. I’m keeping better track of many things political both locally and nationally via Twitter.

Ultimately, the answer is people. The answer to my way of thinking is finding a way to capture the imagination and energy of the youth and giving them a viable alternative to getting “real jobs”–at least for a time. And these people will need support and a structure..and money.

If Republicans face a Democratic House, Senate and Executive branch who will put three radical judges in the Supreme Court, that will focus their independent spirits. And out of desperation, the establishment may be willing, at long last, to try some new ideas.

Posted in Political Animals
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  • jack sigil

    This morning on Fox, “Joe the Plumber” was discussing how much power the communists (Obamaites) have in America. He asked,”if Obama has the power to totally investigate and embarass everyone who dares ask him an embarassing question, and yet not answer any real questions about himself now; What will he be able to do if he becomes president? He will be able and willing to prevent all criticism or inquiries.” As I listened, I realized that all the agencies investigating “Joe the Plumber,” in Ohio were actually every agency there. Joe pointed out that he was investigated by a woman from Family Services that was a big contributor to Obama and several similar examples.There is no doubt that if they could have had Joe arrested for something, anything,it would be a lesson to all of those fearful masses!
    According to my own research every organization, church or association, of any size or influence, in America, is now controlled by leftists. Such groups range from the Association of Retired People to Libray Associations. The norm is that any new association becomes leftist within three years of its inception. The process which an association undergoes as it transforms from being an association, to a marxist (But it only acts Marxist, it does not call itself Marxist) association, is a process involving two communist processes, entryism and exploitation of the organizational weapon.
    I will give you an example. I attended a meeting recently of a group that presented itself as an organization for “greening” buuildings in America. At the meeting a woman, an outsider, spoke who was obviously identifiable as a Marxist by her jargon and arrogance. She pointed out how many associations they had brought on board. The pictures she showed of “successful greened buildings” were the usual Boslshevik-style match-boxes adopted in the 1950s. There was nothing new.
    The membership dues that she mentioned were a bit high.
    Then she revealed that recently “the board” had invited Desmond Tutu to speak to their meeting in New York. When I asked why Desmond Tutu was paid an honorarium, flown in from Africa and all his expenses paid, to speak to an American greening group, she replied: “We seek iversity.” “But TuTu knows nothing about architecture, buildings or the greening movement,” I said. “Why waste all that money?” She said: “It was a board decision.” “Are you the Green Party?” (a Marxist Front) I asked. “Not actually. We are a large and growing association of people that support the greening of America.” she replied. Then someone asked: “Why are you seeking diversity from Africa?” which she ignored.
    As she went on with her long boring talk there was much more to it than improving the environment. But it would take ten pages to describe all the Marxist ideas that the organization was promoting.
    To summarize, America is now riddled with thousands of federal, state, and local organizations controlled by leftists with a Marxist agenda. Evey large corporation conducts periodic sensitivity grouup meeting advocating diversity and other collectivist ideas.
    America has fallen to the communist organizational weapon. Obama’s massive power at all levels is an expression of that power.
    On the other hand there is no strong right wing organization extant. Let’s set one up. :)
    I am planning on setting up a blog dedicated to populism and meritocracy.

  • gus

    I hate to say it, there is a reason the conservatives and Republicans are getting their asses kicked this year. and it’s not because they are not conservative enough. It’s because they are uncompromisingly narrow minded in their views. There is just no compromise in their platform. checking out both websites, “right wing news” and yours, I have to say you are a big part of the reason “The Right” is socially banckrupt. People are not voting overwhelmingly Democrat in 2008 because they all of a sudden became “fake Americans” or brainwashed by the commies, people just don’t want to vote for a bankrupt ideology. The “Right” does need to be rebuilt, But hopefully not by you.

  • http://www.biggervoices.com Matt

    I am not sure if paying the bloggers is the best way to “rebuild.” Somehow if I know a blogger is getting paid by the GOP, then I don’t think the objectivity is there. If you have a whole bunch of bloggers paid by the GOP, then most likely only the hardcore conservatives will be reading them. Preaching to the choir is not going to help.

    I do agree we need to find ways to compensate the political activists/bloggers better in general.

  • Cousin Dave

    gus, flattery will get you nowhere.

    I think there is a good opportunity here. Melissa, it’s true that people like us aren’t going to leave our “day jobs” (as the musicians say). But what about the younger adults? Consider the college student who is interested in conservative journalism. Where do they go to learn that? There are hundreds of schools that teach left-wing journalism, but none that teach conservative journalism. That’s part of the problem we have. A stipend for a group of students to travel, cover various issues of concern to conservatives, and meet conservatives around the country such as yourself would be a great opportunity. Heck, if I was young, footloose, and interested in the writing professions, I’d jump at that.

    I tend to agree with Mark that the Republican Party isn’t the right organization to do it. I believe that having it run, or spun off from, a think tank like the Heritage Foundation, or a group like the Federalist Society, would be a more effective way of running it, and it would help deflect the inevitable accusations that the writers are just a house organ for the GOP.