Reps Are Listening to Bloggers

Patrick Ruffini, accomplished blogger, has been serving as eCampaign Director for the Republican National Committee. In a recent interview of Ruffini:

John Hawkins of Right Wing News sat down with RNC eCampaign Director Patrick Ruffini. Highlights include: "
John Hawkins: Does the RNC have any sort of organized method for checking out what the blogosphere is doing on a daily basis?
Patrick Ruffini: Sure! Each morning we start off with a blog report that gets sent out in the morning and afternoon...that tells the entire building what bloggers are talking about that day.
John Hawkins: Related question: the right side of the blogosphere has been very critical of a lot of Republicans on Capitol Hill of late. So, do you think they're more of an asset or a hindrance to the party right now?
Patrick Ruffini: I think you could point to similar things in talk radio, but I don't think any aspect of this is necessarily hurtful to the Party. I think there are certainly going to be times where you agree and times where you disagree, and it comes and it goes. I don't necessarily view that as, "We have this huge problem on our hands." Being realistic, the political environment is tough right now, but we have to keep going and have to work to earn that support every day.

One of the most accomplished conservative bloggers is “Captain” Ed Morrissey, of CaptainsQuarters, a must read every day. Morrissey’s trenchant commentary has been recognized by the budding newspaper chain, the Examiner, which has made him a founding member of its Blog Board of Contributors. Morrissey’s first column is up.

Morrissey points out that conservatives owe no loyalty to the Republican National Committee, or other national Party organs which use funds to cement their control over our local representatives. Conservatives, however, in loyalty to principles, do owe support to local candidates who represent, and anything less is an abdication of responsibility and seriousness.

The Examiner’s editorial editor, Mark Tapscott, a significant blogger himself, emailed me a few minutes ago of the forming Blog Board of Contributors:

Thus far, it includes in addition to Ed: LaShawn Barber of LaShawn Barber's Corner, Mary Katharine Ham of Hugh Hewitt, Lorie Byrd of Wizbang, Betsy Newmark of Betsy's Page and Jeralyn Merrit of TalkLeft.com. More will be added, but it will be limited to no more than a dozen at any one time. I've had some turndowns, especially from people on the Left, and am still waiting for responses from some others.

The Examiner is on its way to becoming a daily must read. With Tapscott at the helm, it could be no less. The RNC should be paying close attention, as should we all.