Strange. Raising Kaine is not some money making endeavor. The ad revenues, the donations, the time and sweat - it all goes back into the PAC. Every money raised either went into expenses (like web hosting) and state election activities (supporting Tim Kaine's election).
Nobody takes a salary. Lowell does not make "a tidy sum" -- or any sum -- from Raising Kaine. And nowhere did Lowell ask for money to enrich himself. (In fact, Lowell has donated the most time and money to RK than anyone.) He's clearly making a point that Raising Kaine needs the benevolence of others to keep going. And comparing him to someone who defrauded children is a pretty low blow.
I'm not trying to start a blog-on-blog war - just setting the record straight. Perhaps Not Harris Miller's post was satire. Perhaps it was a joke. But if not, it's the most misguided smear of a Democrat I've seen in a long time. And in 2006, that's saying a lot!
Yes; we need to defend Lowell and ourselves against demagoguery but no; we don't need to overreact to them because that's exactly what they want.
In my opinion, your response was appropriate and correct.
We know from multiple recent examples that Jim Webb would address a ridiculous accusation once with little emotion and with sound facts - just as you did - and then let it go.
Perhaps we should start asking ourselves; "What Would Jim Webb Do?" (WWJWD) in these types of situations.
Now that you have addressed the facts correctly, if we ignore "NHM", I think he/she will eventually go away, sort of like what happened to that guy who ran against Jim Webb for U. S. Senate recently.
What was his name again?
Thanks!
Steve McGraw
I hope Ben will correct his website. Regardless, I agree that we should all move on.
Having said that, it is very offensive for people to be making personal attacks on Lowell. Criticize him for his comments about the local party folks or whatever. I told him that I thought he made a mistake.
The truth is that Lowell has been a critical force over the last few years in helping to get Virginia Democrats elected and in pursuing the common goal we all share of turning Virgina blue.
Lowell is an independent minded person who is exceptionally dedicated to the broader goals of the Democratic Party... ....as opposed to someone who focuses on political alliances without regard for where someone stands on the issues. I have great respect for his intellect and his commitment to doing what he thinks is right. I think that any attack of the sort we've seen is unwarranted. Lowell deserves better, even from people within the Party who disagree with him. They cannot argue with his success.
I thought the NLS posting was offensive
But to diss the best blogger (with all due respect to the others who blog) in Virginia for petty reasons and contrived assertions is over the line. It was obvious to me, when I read Lowell's update hinting at what it takes to keep a site running, that the post had nothing to do with those things asserted by NHM.
I have never met Lowell. But I know this. There is no one who is better at fact-checking in the Virginia blogosphere. NHM should be thanking Lowell. Every Democrat and independent minded person in Virginia shoud be thanking Lowell.
Or is NHM a Republican?
Lowell, the fact that you are getting this kind of stuff means you've done your job. You presented some hard truths. You've worked tirelessly for your candidate (and this site). No one, especially one who becomes increasingly high-profile, can please everyone. And some folks will just "slice and dice" others' characters. To, NHM, come on... Who are you kidding? To go after someone as you have done is just mean-spirited and serves no purpose.
Most of us avoid overt criticism of other bloggers. They are just expressing news, their opinions and heartfelt political values. They, as we, just feel passionate about ideas and how our government works (or doesn't) We sometimes disagree (with some more than others). But personally attacking the integrity of a fellow blogger is not only unfair. It also shows more about the character of the attacker.
BTW, I like the WWJWD concept. Despite how ugly the campaigning got this year, Webb himself managed to keep his dignity while fighting a good fight.
Jealousy is one of the ugly parts of human nature. Ignore it. If we have to react every time an idiot opens their mouth, we better give up eating and sleeping from now on.