Brian Rothenberg - Blog Police chief
It seems Brian Rothenberg, ODP press release writer went crying to the Dispatch. Not only that he seems to have had a hard time telling the truth.
Until recently, Brian Rothenberg admits, he was content to watch the phenomenon of Internet blogging from his perch at the Ohio Democratic Party, where he is the communications director.
Those days are over, and his baptism by fire to the blogosphere leaves no doubt that the medium is here to stay and also evolving.
Rothenberg and others who are paid to get the word out for political parties should take note. Someday, they
The joke is that bloggers are youngish, live in their mothers’ basements, work in their pajamas and have nothing better to do than wax away on any number of topics. Like most generalizations, that’s probably unfair.
Isn't a quote from Brian. As for the rest, some of it is accurate, journalists who will be attending to covering it don't get the dinner tickets, that's not what you guys were asking for.
My take on it was she was more pro blog than anti-blog, especially her last comment:
Campaigns can get with it, establish some ad-hoc rules, or get out of the way.
though its pretty crappy to write about bloggers without even talking to any - and then to regurgitate mindless drivel about ages and basements.
The recent MTB readers survey showed that most are 30-50 and highly educated and earn decent money.
My point was to highlight the stupidity of Rothenberg - coupled with his decptions in this article.
when I talked with him in Worthington after his presentation to the WADC.
At least he is staying on message.
You can see my rather detailed report here on BSB, which I posted April 10th.
There seemed to be a bit of a fuss over bloggers "demanding" free food at what was supposed to be a fundraising event, and perplexity over whether bloggers were a kind of journalist or party activists.
He also seemed a little annoyed that the bloggers had made this about THEM.
Interesting that it took so long to get into the newspaper -- but maybe it is seen as of more interest as we get closer to the dinner itself.
I did find this part personally funny:
Well, Ann I certainly wouldn't characterize my job this way, but yes campaigns do hire online communications directors. And the job is not about "trolling for thoughts". Its a comprehensive strategy of a campaign blog, blogger relations and interviews, email outreach and newsletters, social networking websites, online advertising, etc.
Online Communcations Director
hoffman@ohiodems.org
Ohio Democratic Party
Give them a year to adjust to it and eventually they will learn from their mistakes.
It is impressive how much the ODP doesn't get it.
Personally, I could care less what Brian Rothenberg thinks or feels. He isn't paid to think. He's a puppet jealous of the little children that can play without worrying about getting tangled in strings.
http://blog.oh02.com/
I don't want anything from the ODP, and I don't want the ODP thinking that I've got a beaf with them. WIN ELECTIONS. That's what I am looking for.
I didn't like attacking the ODP for not giving out some tickets. I didn't think that it came off as dignified. I also didn't like how Rothenberg handled it.
Still, this isn't about us.
I was very honored to get a call from Senator Obama's chief of staff. I didn't come out looking to go, but when asked I said yes.
How do we get beyond this crap? How do we move to taking names and putting notches on belts? Most days we come off as spoiled children or worn down political hacks. I have no battle with Brian Rothenberg. He shouldn't have a battle with me.
The Chair battle and Senate primary did real damage. How do we get beyond it? Game time is fast upon us, and we've got no time for superstars looking out for themselves instead of the team.
http://blog.oh02.com/
I think you got to fight the battles in front of you. While everyone would like to come together and sing kumbaya i just dont see it happening. Too many entrenched interests not wanting to give up what little control they perceive themselves as having.
See it here and in the other thread about the city mayors.
Cept to say it's going to take both sides. I wasn't invited and I wouldn't have gone. I still don't agree with the way it was done either but it's over or at least I hope it will end up being over rather than being another thing that keeps coming up.
I think part of the problem is one side has to just say "Okay let's forget all of the past bullshit and just start from this point". I know that's what I try to focus on, and I think you do that as well oh2. It's easier for me to say that though because I am on the outside of much of it.
I have tried the "lets start over" routine twice with Rothenberg to no avail. He is clearly more interested in an adversarial relationship than a mutually beneficial one. Why ? only he can answer.
Other than the Brown campaign, everyone else on the camapaign trail is at least polite and most very responsive indeed.
It takes two people to have an adversarial relationship just as it takes two to have a mutually beneficial one. Despite the poking some of you do it's deeper than that. If the problem were just related to Brian then it would have been resolved by now because if those others were all truly very responsive indeed then I believe this would have been handled.
That's the way I see it, and I've seen the same good cop/bad cop routine played here. Where the front man who takes the majority of the heat isn't the one making the plays.
For the record, I haven't owned a pair of pajamas since I was 12 or so.
B'shalom,
Jeff
B'shalom,
Jeff Hess
Have Coffee Will Write
Why did you stop wearing PJs?
At the center of the transformation of Pennsylvania politics has been an extremely vibrant, emerging progressive movement statewide. For those of you who still believe that fighting internal Democratic battles is somehow a waste of progressive resources, you need to look no further than to Pennsylvania for counter-evidence. While the newly revitalized progressive movement in Pennsylvania has locked horns with the party establishment, the result has not been drained resources and two separate, warring factions. Instead, the result has been a tremendous upswing in pro-Democratic Party activity in Pennsylvania that has benefited both the new progressive movement and the party establishment. Our new progressive movement is working--the old ways of either simply falling in line behind the party leaders or bolting the party / sitting on your hands were not working. The progressive, internal reform movement has identified hundreds of new activists, resulted in a tremendous fundraising upswing, created new progressive media outlets, started new grassroots organizations, and forged new progressive social networking spaces. This is how you do it. This is how a progressive movement can win back Pennsylvania, and indeed the entire nation.
I am amazed that the Democratic Communications Director in a state of 11.5M people doesn't know how to handle a bunch of kids in their pajamas.
Oh no wait . . . amazed . . . but not suprised.
"You better get politics or politics will get you" - my grandmother
Bloggers who wear ties are always appropriately dressed. It lends a certain gravitas to their thoughts. Or maybe it just restricts the blood flow to the brain, which passes for gravitas in some quarters.
Actually, I've found that holding my breath while commenting works, too. That way I can work in the shower. But maybe that's just me.