How Daschle Got Blogged: And how online journalism is transforming politics
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JOHN FUND ON THE TRAIL

Monday, December 13, 2004 12:01 a.m.

Bloggers received a lot of attention for helping to expose the fake documents backing up Dan Rather's "60 Minutes" story on President Bush and the Texas Air National Guard. But that's only one of the interesting ways in which the Internet is empowering people and shaping political coverage.

Indeed, the real power of bloggers in politics is how they interact with their mainstream media counterparts. Online journalism gives critics of the media a way to talk back, a platform from which to point out bias, hypocrisy and factual errors. And if the criticisms are on target, old-media institutions can't help but take note. That's exactly what just happened in South Dakota's epic Senate race between Minority Leader Tom Daschle and his GOP challenger, John Thune.

South Dakota Republicans decided that the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, which dominates the state's media since it's the only paper with a statewide circulation, was hopelessly biased in favor of Mr. Daschle. "The ability to use the Internet to circumvent concentrated media power became a 21st-century updating of 19th-century Dakota populism," says John Lauck, a history professor at the University of South Dakota who was allied with Mr. Thune. Mr. Lauck and several of his friends collaborated on blogs that constantly reminded voters of contradictions between Mr. Daschle's voting record and his statements in South Dakota, as well as the Argus Leader's refusal to acknowledge them.

"South Dakotas have for the first time been hearing a few things about 'ole Tom' that have surprised," reported The Wall Street Journal's Kim Strassel from South Dakota last October. "Mr. Daschle has assured voters he supports a state law defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Yet in July he voted against a similar constitutional amendment that two-thirds of South Dakotans support. He was a free trader, but now he's not. He's for legal change, but blocked every tort bill. He beats up on drug companies, though his wife, Linda Daschle, lobbies for them."

Patrick Lalley, the Argus Leader's assistant managing editor, acknowledges that the blogs had an impact on how his paper covered the Senate race. They certainly got under the skin of some of the paper's executives. Randell Beck, executive editor of the Argus Leader, called some of the bloggers work "crap" and said they represented an organized effort by conservatives to discredit his paper. In July, he explained to readers that "true believers of one stripe or another, no longer content to merely bore spouses and neighbors with their nutty opinions, can now spew forth on their own blogs, thereby playing a pivotal role in creating the polarized climate that dominates debate on nearly every national issue. If Hitler were alive today, he'd have his own blog."

The blogging of South Dakota began in late 2002, after Mr. Thune lost a Senate race to incumbent Tim Johnson, a Daschle protégé, by 524 votes. Republicans felt that both the campaign and subsequent allegations of voter fraud had been unfairly covered by the mainstream media. Jason Van Beek, a student at the University of South Dakota, launched a site called South Dakota Politics. Mr. Van Beek declared he would monitor the "biased coverage" he detected in the Argus Leader. Indeed, in the spring of 2004, Mr. Van Beek publicized memos he had discovered written in the 1970s that revealed the Democratic connections of David Kranz, the Argus Leader's chief political writer. In the memos, aides to Democratic former senator James Abourezk refer to Mr. Kranz as a "good Democrat" whom their office should use to push stories.

Supporters of the Argus Leader fired back a few weeks later with their own allegations of bias when the Thune campaign began paying Mr. Van Beek and Mr. Lauck to conduct research for the GOP campaign. Through October, Mr. Lauck received $27,000 and Mr. Van Beek received $8,000. Some of the work they did included analyzing a poll taken by the Thune campaign which found that 55% of the state's voters viewed the Argus Leader's coverage as biased. "The difference was that everyone was aware the bloggers were biased, while the Argus Leader pretended otherwise," says Paul Erickson, a Republican activist who helped publish and distribute an unfavorable paperback on Mr. Daschle that helped shape public opinion.

The blogs and other alternative media outlets became the tail wagging the media dog. "Argus Leader reporters said the pressure from the blogs increased until a 'siege mentality' took over at the paper, according to one source. Complaints flooded the paper's office," National Journal's John Stanton reported.

The paper's readers also began to take notice of the range of coverage available on the blogs that mysteriously didn't show up in their local paper. "The Argus Leader often doesn't present the whole picture in its political coverage," Wendy Otheim, a teacher from Hartford, S.D., wrote the paper in October. "A multitude of blog sites make for interesting reading. Don't be held a captive audience to the Argus Leader." To its credit, the paper ran Ms. Otheim's letter.

Blogs are likely to pop up in other races, especially in states where media coverage of politics tends to be dominated by only one or two major sources. "I know people in Minnesota noticed the Daschle-Thune blogs, " Steve Sviggum, Minnesota's Republican House speaker, told me. "I would hope bloggers will be all over the Minneapolis Star Tribune in 2006," he added, referring to the state's largest daily paper.

Indeed, a blog called Dayton v, Kennedy has already started up, anticipating a face-off between Sen. Mark Dayton, a Democratic freshman, and Rep. Mark Kennedy, a Republican. Much of its early coverage has focused on Mr. Dayton's bizarre decision to close his Senate office for a month in October, allegedly because of an unspecified threat of terrorism. No other member of Congress took a similar step.

It's clear that political candidates will continue to cultivate bloggers and their readers. John Kerry sent the first word of his selection of John Edwards as his running mate to readers of his official campaign blog. President Bush's campaign responded with a campaign ad on its Web site featuring an endorsement by Sen. John McCain, whom Kerry had pitched to consider a spot on his ticket.

Technology is moving so fast that there are now a growing number of video bloggers, or "vloggers," who look toward the day when they can produce original programming, bypassing the usual broadcast networks and cable channels. Dan Rather may have done more than legitimize the blogging community with his scandal. He may have helped accelerate a radical decentralization of media power that will turn bloggers into future anchors of their own mini-news programs.

Copyright © 2004 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Reply 1 - Posted by: Maybeth, 12/13/2004 7:20:22 AM For the first time in forever, members of Congress are being unmasked ...... on both sides of the aisle. The public has been held prisoner by the MSM for many years. Thank you, wonderful bloggers and Pajama Club members!

Reply 2 - Posted by: Duke of Duval, 12/13/2004 7:25:39 AM This is all fine but a lot of people living no where near South Dakota donated amounts to Thune's efforts to dump "Daschle the Obstructionist." I took my first opportunity to connect with and send a small check to the SD repubs and sent three more during the run up. I don't live within a thousand miles of S.D. but Daschle does AND HE WAS A NATIONAL PROBLEM. When another effective obstructionist surfaces I will be looking for how to connect with his opponent's campaign in his next "election" and give my small amount of financial support to it.

Reply 3 - Posted by: LetGeorge1, 12/13/2004 7:45:20 AM Yes isn't it great. Old d.rathers hung out to dry despite his stonewalling. He could have gotten away with his deceit a few years ago, instead he was exposed for the fraud he is. The pajamahadeen is a mighty force.

Reply 4 - Posted by: iago beets, 12/13/2004 7:54:20 AM Daschole is just the beginning, of course. Next to be taken out are TIM JOHNSON, BYRON DORGAN, and KENT CONRAD! Merry Christmas. Oh--and did I mention, bye-bye Dashole, bye-bye Dashole, b ye-bye Dashole, we hate to see you go!

Reply 5 - Posted by: diamonds, 12/13/2004 8:00:56 AM Like poster #2, I sent a check directly to John Thune. Found his address on the web. I wanted Daschle out and figured Thune could use every dollar he could get. This is what we're going to have to do from now on. Help other states get rid of their doo-dah.

Reply 6 - Posted by: cpmjohn, 12/13/2004 8:06:25 AM Maybe we should all start blogs about our local officials...city, county, state! Would like to show how local congresswomen Woolsey votes on every issue.

Reply 7 - Posted by: TalkRadio, 12/13/2004 8:09:01 AM Vlogger?!? So bloggers are so 2004....

Reply 8 - Posted by: AppleAnnie, 12/13/2004 8:35:48 AM #2 and 5: I, too, gave a modest donation to Thune and to Coleman in the election before. It all adds up and little by little we are taking the country back. Feels wonderful.

Reply 9 - Posted by: nevernaught, 12/13/2004 8:39:10 AM *If Hitler were alive today, he'd have his own blog.* This comment from Argus Leader people begs the question...Is he refering to people like Barbara Strieshand and their well funded leftist propanganda sites? Of course not, most media outlets just like to sally along unchallenged while spewing forth biased propanganda. They fear bias exposure and that is just what they face daily in todays internet world. Have fun at the newspaper guys...your operations are so twentieth century without self imposed ethics or morals.

Reply 10 - Posted by: lydwho, 12/13/2004 8:52:00 AM I hope the Bloggers get Kerry to admit to his less than honorable discharge before 2008

Reply 11 - Posted by: YY4U, 12/13/2004 8:52:29 AM Bloggers aren't the story so much as the fact that me "media" became nothing more than mouthpieces for the Democratic Party somewhere in the sixties, as much poliicians as those who ran for office, with as much an agenda as any candidate, and with just as important a job. From the sixties through the nineties, Democrats dominated politics BECAUSE the Republicans were prevented from getting their ideas out. Another important advantage the Democrats had and still have is that if a Republican missteps, the MEDIA expose him/her and the Democrats "look" above the fray. BUT if a Democrat does something criminal or illegal (think Clinton) the media remains silent forcing the Republicans to look mean and vindictive. It worked until the internet and bloggers. This is why the Democrats are in such disarray now, why're they've gone hysterical. Their whole political plan has come unraveled and they don't know what to do.

Reply 12 - Posted by: cap MarineTet68, 12/13/2004 9:05:20 AM "The ability to use the Internet to circumvent concentrated media power became a 21st-century updating of 19th-century Dakota populism," Might be bettero worded, "The ability to use the Internet to 'expose the rank hypocrisy, strong bias, and abuse of power of the' concentrated media power became a 21st-century updating of 19th-century Dakota populism," #11 has it right. The real story is the stuff that was excluded from the news. Sherlock Holmes' 'dog that did not bark'.

Reply 13 - Posted by: Freedomlover, 12/13/2004 9:08:24 AM We also need to start thinking how to defeat RINOs like Susan Collins in 2006. If we can't defeat her in a primary, defeat her in the general election. It will send a big message to all the cowardly Repulbicans who would prefer the good old days when democrats ran things.

Reply 14 - Posted by: duzystopa, 12/13/2004 9:14:02 AM I think Dashle should be a greeter at an Indian casino.

Reply 15 - Posted by: Opinionated Blowhard, 12/13/2004 9:18:40 AM Based on the bitter comments coming from teh Argus Leader, it looks like South Dakota should be able to add sour grapes to the list of products it exports in abundance.

Reply 16 - Posted by: YY4U, 12/13/2004 9:28:37 AM #13 has the same recipe for disaster as the Democrats are following. Get rid of the moderates in your party and head hard right (or left, in the Dems' case). In truth, this might be a good plan. If the Republicans would jettison their moderates as the Democrats are jettisoning centrists, perhaps the McCains, Liebermans, Guilianis, Schwarzeneggers, Liebermans, Collinses, Chaffees, Bayhs, Breaux, Millers, Snowes, Patakis, etc. could form a third "moderate" party and or join the Reform Party. Ten percent of the country is hard right, fifteen percen is hard left. The 75% in the middle could form a true mandate and perhaps get American back on track.

Reply 17 - Posted by: Judy W., 12/13/2004 9:33:05 AM Someone has a "law" that whoever mentions Hitler first is going to lose. So it was inevitable that the newspaper would go down to defeat when the editor compared bloggers to Hitler.

Reply 18 - Posted by: Gallo3, 12/13/2004 9:48:40 AM #4, please don't forget Senator Mark Dayton, Democrat of Minnesota, owner of Target Stores. We gotta get rid of him in '06, along with Conrad of NoDak. We HAVE to convince former NoDak governor Ed Schaeffer to run against Conrad; looks like Congressman Mark Kennedy is our best hope for whupping Dayton. These perrier populists have to go once and for all. BTW, I see the liberal Blowhard on the radio in Fargo, Big Ed Schultz, the liberals' hoped for 'butching vehicle' (sponsored by Dorgan, Conrad, and the PIAPS) is now going to be broadcast in DC; Don't shop at Target.

Reply 19 - Posted by: Halfgenius, 12/13/2004 9:50:44 AM The Bloggers could have been revealing if the 'Rat platform had been built on stone but it instead it was built on lies and deception and couldn't stand the force of Bloggers scrutiny and crumbled under their spotlight. Another bright spot for the Republicans is the intensity with which the 'Rats have been gnawing at it's foundation has been futile, in fact it seems to have been strengthened leaving the unsavory critters with nothing but their own squashed sour grapes and angst to sooth their bleeding wounds. I think the message has been sent to both party's that unworthy characters are going to be exposed by Bloggers and need not apply, RE Bernie Kerik.

Reply 20 - Posted by: Harmony1, 12/13/2004 10:04:25 AM I'll bet that algore wishes he'd never 'invented' the Internet!....tic..... I will reiterate that our own LUCIANNE GOLDBERG was a Major Player in the 'Blogger/Pajama Pack' Movement! Lucianne gave us a Forum upon which to build a Cornerstone .....more followed....now we are seeing what can be done with Research/Information/Facts. Unseating Daschle was a 'good thing'!

Reply 21 - Posted by: stories55, 12/13/2004 10:04:41 AM No. Mr. Beck, if Hitler were alive and living in South Dakota he wouldn't need his own blog, he'd have the Argus Leader.

Reply 22 - Posted by: Mr. Know-It-All, 12/13/2004 10:11:56 AM This is exciting. We are witnessing the start of a grass roots rebellion against the entrenched nobility of the old media and throwing off the shackles of their filters. Just as the invention of the printing press began to make printed material available to the masses, this will make the truth available as well. Just be careful and treat the new media the same way you have been treating the old: Don't believe everything you read. And for goodness sakes, don't forward all those stupid and sensational emails that are reporting flashing headlight gang initiations and ankle slashing gas station predators until you verify first. I sure get tired of seeing those.

Reply 23 - Posted by: texaspast, 12/13/2004 10:13:25 AM "If Hitler were alive today, he'd have his own blog." But so would the Jews.

Reply 24 - Posted by: Doris2, 12/13/2004 10:19:29 AM *If Hitler were alive today, he'd have his own blog.* If Hitler were alive today, he would never have become the horrible dictator he became because of the internet and the bloggers. He would have been exposed much quicker. All the money in the world couldn't defeat Sen Daschle, if the candidate running against him hadn't been as attractive and bright as Thune. I am thrilled Sen Daschle was defeated, but, I am still not sure outsiders should interfere in local politics. It doesn't seem morally right. I hope there is a dialogue about this practice. I don't care for carpet baggers like Hillary Clinton coming into a state and grabbing power for her own agenda. I am thankful the Founding Fathers for having the foresight in preventing foreign carpet baggers from coming to America and running for President. Let's not lose our soul in the quest unseating unpopular liberals.

Reply 25 - Posted by: slick meister, 12/13/2004 10:50:42 AM " Dan Rather may have done more than legitimize the blogging community with his scandal. He may have helped accelerate a radical decentralization of media power that will turn bloggers into future anchors of their own mini-news programs." Amen.

Reply 26 - Posted by: ILoveLucy, 12/13/2004 11:01:11 AM Outsiders interfere in local politics all the time. One of Sen. Ben Nelson's biggest supporters (when he was governor of Nebraska as well) was Stephen Spielberg. I doubt he's ever landed his private jet in Nebraska, let alone walked a single street in the state.

Reply 27 - Posted by: gop_guys, 12/13/2004 11:03:49 AM Has anyone mentioned Harry Reid? The ''Master Strategist'' as Susan Estrich calls him will be a formidible foe. He's cut from the same cloth as Daschle. His comments regarding Justice Thomas were unforgiveable. We'll have to see how it plays out but I'm betting they'll oppose the Bush agenda at every turn. They don't know any better....classless bunch, the lot of them.

Reply 28 - Posted by: garyhope, 12/13/2004 11:07:24 AM "still not sure outsiders should interfere in local politics" #24, Daschle was not "local politics", as far as I'm concerned or could see, he was actively impeeding the safety and security of the USA and by extension, my own personal safety and security. That's local enough for me.

Reply 29 - Posted by: VivaFlame, 12/13/2004 11:20:13 AM Ditto #21 I was just going to say the same thing.

Reply 30 - Posted by: wolfgang von skeptik, 12/13/2004 11:22:28 AM What #16 said.

Reply 31 - Posted by: Ratt, 12/13/2004 11:36:14 AM "I am thrilled Sen Daschle was defeated, but, I am still not sure outsiders should interfere in local politics. It doesn't seem morally right. I hope there is a dialogue about this practice." Yo # 24 , you bet your Grandmother's Boots that the DNC is getting outside Political help . We pubbies are in this together and we need to stick together like red glue .

Reply 32 - Posted by: radrelic, 12/13/2004 12:15:31 PM "Technology is moving so fast that there are now a growing number of video bloggers, or "vloggers," who look toward the day when they can produce original programming, bypassing the usual broadcast networks and cable channels." Good, now we may find that dems also trip, fall, throw up, etc. A new bloopers site could be founded. Could this be a new revolution where the sheeple take back their government? Thomas Paine with a blog would have been anymore effective. His pamphlets an alternate source of information?? Luckily having thought this question, I can immediately seach the net for the answer to my own question. Love this information age. Re bloggers vs. old media: A little truth goes a long way. True of all ages and may even be taken up in Iraq and the Ukraine if their sheeple catch on and have the same inner need as those raised free.

Reply 33 - Posted by: Penney, 12/13/2004 12:20:48 PM We also need such a blog in Missouri for information about how ALL our elected representatives in Jeff City vote in comparison to what they say. There was an excellent representative from Independence a few years ago who kept everyone who requested to be on her e-mail list informed, but since she left office, I'm not aware of another similar source. State bloggers would be appreciated.

Reply 34 - Posted by: Judith1, 12/13/2004 12:37:40 PM With any luck Reid will be 'daschled' out and we won't see much of him. It will just reinforce the message that obstructionists are not wanted. Reid is as racist as they come. He and his party, the dims. I f ex grand wizard Byrd is smart, he will retire instead of running once more to put his pasty face in the public eye. Stange isn't it that the modern day racists are dims? Guess, like naturally seeks out like. 'Birds of a feather' and all that jazz.

Reply 35 - Posted by: ladydawgfan, 12/13/2004 12:46:06 PM Bloggers need to go after Leaky Leahy and Jumpin' Jimmy Jeffords, both of whom are up for reelection in '06. I would love to see both of those turds flushed, along with Mr. Socialist himself, Bonehead Sanders!!!!

Reply 36 - Posted by: 4Frank Merenda, 12/13/2004 1:59:46 PM

Reply 37 - Posted by: on fire, 12/13/2004 2:03:30 PM Enjoyed #21. But really, it didn't take blogging to convince me to send $$ to Thune.

Reply 38 - Posted by: Sunflower, 12/13/2004 2:11:22 PM Love it, we are taking our Nation back from the demonKRATS, one person at a time, back to celebating Christmas, Prayer in School, The Ten Commandments allowed to be displayed, keeping the Electoral Vote, etc., Thanks PJ clads, for saving us, from dash-hole, blather-memo-gate, hanoi heinz gengis kahn kerry. Now we all have to pitch in, whenever, wherever, to keep them down. God Bless America, and Merry Christmas.

Reply 39 - Posted by: lelande, 12/13/2004 2:14:47 PM Another item to be used against Dayton. Target does not allow Salvation Army or Santa Claus solicitors in front of their stores. Boycott Target too and kick out Dayton, in Minnesota. I believe the fact that he closed his D.C. office shows cowardise and the like a typical democrat cuts and runs when the going gets touch. The victory in Iraq, which will happen, will be entirely a Republican freedom victory and there won't be enough democrats in congress to hold a caucus in a washroom.

Reply 40 - Posted by: Brown Bear, 12/13/2004 2:24:42 PM The best lies are half truths and partial truths. Trial Lawyers and Newspaper Editors work their magic with half truths and lies by omission. They deceive by withholding important evidence and omitting any truths that disprove their dogma. Control the agenda, control the speakers, control the debate and you can control the outcome. In South Dakota the Argus Leader protected Tom Daschle by omitting the truths about his voting record, his wife's millions from lobbying, his new mansion in D.C., etc. Bloggers changed the race by publicly discussing some truths about Tom Daschle that the Argus Leader had concealed. A liberal newspaper lost its choke hold on the agenda and on the people. A child's voice rose from the crowd and said 'The Emperor has no clothes!'

Reply 41 - Posted by: luvamerica, 12/13/2004 3:10:48 PM For some reason when I hear, 'The Emperor has no clothes', I think of Clinton. Somehow the two go together.

Reply 42 - Posted by: Mushroom, 12/13/2004 5:39:36 PM Contributing to a campaign isn't electing a representitive. When the DNC or the GOP hand cash, soft money, expert assistance, or logistical support to a candidate is it interference ? The PEOPLE of South Dakota who ( for the most part ) were legally entitled to vote selected Thune. Dollars do not always mean success. BTW, a Hitler reference is 'Godwin's Law'

Reply 43 - Posted by: Stars-stripes, 12/13/2004 5:51:48 PM It can be done. First Tom Foley, now Puff. If "Dusty Harry" Reid don't watch his step maybe next election in six years, him too. ("Dusty" Harry, not Dirty Harry - Because the RATs keep going back to that same old dusty RAT Playbook, per Rush). We need help in WA State to get rid of Murray, McDermott, and Cantwell. Please help us!

Reply 44 - Posted by: BubbaEuler, 12/13/2004 5:56:49 PM A good Tennessee Blog is: http://www.billhobbs.com/

Reply 45 - Posted by: TexasTwister, 12/13/2004 6:00:04 PM FYI...the esteemed and I'm sure highly over-educated editor of the Argus Leader failed to do his research. Hitler did, in fact, own a newspaper which, just like the Argus Leader, was used to spew his bias and hatred under the guise of being the "respected mainstream media". http://www.remember.org/guide/Facts.root.hitler.html

Reply 46 - Posted by: cpmjohn, 12/13/2004 7:15:30 PM Sign up here to learn how your local elected officials vote: http://www.thelibertycommittee.org/index.html You'll get email reports of votes placed by local Senators and Congressfolks. Ron Paul's organization.

Reply 47 - Posted by: Duke of Duval, 12/13/2004 8:23:28 PM No. 24, don't forget that Daschle was A NATIONAL PROBLEM when he undertook to prevent any votes on many Federal Judges appointed to serve in MANY other states. Outsiders wanted to get rid of that National Problem, regardless of where it was domiciled. The next one that takes up that obsructionism game will have us outsiders hunting the contact address for HIS opponent in the next election there.

Reply 48 - Posted by: Dimpled Darling, 12/13/2004 9:03:28 PM How delicious. The bloggers come up with the goods and the lsm has egg on its face. They don't even know that their own methods and ideology has 'done 'em in', Beautiful!

Reply 49 - Posted by: partagas, 12/13/2004 9:47:18 PM I have to disagree with those wishing to vote out my senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe. Yes, i wish they were conservative like me but I will take what i can get in this, unfortunately, blue state. Our minimum goal should be to put moderate senators in the blue states and conservative ones in the red ones. It is not in our best interests to want to get rid of them because they will be replaced most likely with democrats. Snowe and Collins have voted with the president when he really needed them, on tax cuts, etc. The rest of the moderate talk I just ignore since I know it is directed to the demos in this state without whose support they would not be elected. I have had the privilege to hear each of them speak to Republicans in small private settings (a perk of being in a small state) and I was struck by how conservative they both sounded.

Reply 50 - Posted by: TheTech, 12/13/2004 11:59:31 PM Thank God for the internet. It's greatest claim to fame may be for saving America from DIMs.

Reply 51 - Posted by: Xango Annie, 12/14/2004 12:30:15 AM I sent small donations to Thune and considered it the best $$ I ever spent..Got several nice thank you notes..which was cool. I also supported Greg Parke who was trying to unseat Bernie Sanders. Unfortunately, that didn't happen but we're not giving up. That is one weasel I want to see dumped..

Reply 52 - Posted by: tofu, 12/14/2004 12:36:47 AM Great ideas. No wonder Daschle could lie so much. He had that paper behind him and thought nothing would change.