Apology from Reporter to Bloggers in Tauscher Brouhaha Shows a Pulse of...Democracy, if not a Bit of Heat

Thanks very much to the folks at Calitics for pointing out my error with respect to Tauscher's record on the Iraq War.

In rewrites of the column to make it shorter, something I must always do, I mistakenly merged Tauscher's votes on the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and unfortunately, none of my editors caught it either.

I'll run a correction as soon as possible, probably not until the Tuesday newspaper as I have logged into my e-mail too late tonight.

I wish I could say that it will be my last mistake but I'm afraid that would be wishful thinking.

Thanks for reading.

A variety of opinions had been posted on Calitics and elsewhere on the article in the CoCo Times. Some brickbats were thrown, but there were others urging a bit more restraint and that those in both the old and new media get to know each other a bit more--and listen and communicate. Even what was perhaps the most vituperative of what was said is solidly within the traditions of American journalism. Just take a look at Eric Burns' book, "Infamous Scribblers: The Founding Fathers and the Rowdy Beginnings of American Journalism", read some of these modern day posts and think about this as a revival of democracy.

At least they're talking about politics, and exchanging ideas which will rise and fall on their own as others respond and judge them.

Here's some of what Paul Delhanty, who blogs as Kid Oakland, had to say on Calitics about the exchanges:

What I would want to convey to both you and Ms. Vorderbrueggen is that those misconceptions hurt all of us.

Bloggers and grassroots activists are sincere, hard working people who care about local politics and our world. We pay attention. We follow the stories and care about the facts, as Ms. Vorderbrueggen was brave enough to acknowledge above.

We are not, as Congresswoman Tauscher and Lisa's article would paint us, people headed "off a Left cliff." That is the most damaging part of the article, in my view. It's plain wrong.

When I did canvassing and phone banking for the McNerney campaign, I was completely and positively impressed with the depth and quality of his volunteeers. There were THOUSANDS of us. These are, I repeat, sincere, accomplished people who are very often spurred into action by reading blogs. That is a GOOD THING.

My point above is that Ellen Tauscher does NOT convey a respect for or understanding of this movement. The very people she needs to win a primary in her district are people she BELITTLES.

The real shame of the factual error in Lisa's story is that it hides what is the REAL STORY about Tauscher's record in her district.

The residents of CA-10 are much more anti-war and dubious of President George Bush's war in Iraq than Ms. Tauscher's public stance and leadership indicates.

That doesn't make Ellen Tauscher "moderate." Far from it. It makes her a Democrat who has provided cover for George Bush as he leads us ever deeper into this war and who now mistakenly BELITTLES the sincere and active Democrats in her own district who profoundly disagree with her.

It is Ellen Tauscher who is deeply out of touch with her own district and party. She should be running away from President Bush instead of proudly meeting with him as he escalates the war in Iraq. The President USED that very meeting to say that he had consulted Democrats. That was the "politics" of Tauscher's visit to the White House.

Even after an election in which the voters of this nation made a clear call for withdrawal from Iraq, Ellen Tauscher gave this President a Democratic imprimatur for the surge. She gave him cover by meeting with him. We all know that she knew exactly how her "side meeting" with the President would be used. And it was.

Bush claims he "met with Democrats" before he decided to surge. That is a big deal.

Congresswoman Tauscher may well learn that providing cover for this President while belittling reform-minded Democratic activists is a losing proposition.

Where does Congresswoman Tauscher stand on the President's dangerous "surge" in Iraq? What did she tell him in that meeting? And what do the voters in CA-10 think about that?

I would propose to Ms. Vorderbrueggen that that is the real story here.

And there are many other stories, including perhaps a greater responsiveness to the sentiments of her strong Democratic district as Tauscher has issued a press release earlier this month with the following quotes that would not have been expected before this ruckus started up:

“I do not support adding any more troops for the President’s failed policy, and I will tell him that. Rather than replace the generals and combatant commanders who disagree with him, the President must take the advice of the Joint Chiefs and other military leaders, the Iraq Study Group, and the American people to change his failed strategy. The only troop surge that makes sense when it comes to Iraq is a surge out.”

There has already been an impact--by the force of ideas.