Bearing Drift Advertising and Consulting Policy
By JR Hoeft | Monday, November 23rd, 2009 | PoliticsThe Bearing Drift policy on advertising and consulting has always been very clear, but just to reiterate:
1 – should we receive advertising money from a candidate, it does not imply endorsement
2 – should a contributor provide consulting to a candidate, that contributor will not write about that race.
I hope this clarifies the policy, if there was any confusion before.
Bottom-line: to imply that we are somehow biased because we take the words as written or spoken by a candidate and then write commentary on it because of some perceived hearsay over consulting fees is an insult to this blog and our credibility.
I stand by all my contributors and their integrity. I trust them implicitly.
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About the author
Conservative to the core; liberal with his opinion! J.R. has been involved in politics for over a decade and has worked on several campaigns in Hampton Roads. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia. He is also the director of “Blogs United” in Virginia. E-mail J.R.. Follow J.R. on Twitter.
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44 Responses to "Bearing Drift Advertising and Consulting Policy"
My name is John McCain and I approve this message!
So, you claim that being a mouthpiece for the Republicans is done free of charge? That’s a laugh.
A response to the discussion on McWaters I presume? I think it’s good to reiterate that to prevent any future claims of bias.
1 – We’re not a mouthpiece, we just agree with the GOP on most policies.
2 – We receive no compensation from the GOP. Yep, we do this for free. I know it’s hard to believe given the amount of work we put into this; my wife finds it hard to believe too.
3 – I would presume you, WRV, would say the same thing about blogs that favor Democrats or Libertarians, correct?
4 – This is my personal blog. It’s not a news site. I can write about whatever and whoever and whenever I want. I can allow whoever I want to write here and delete anyone I want. It can have whatever perspective I want. My perogative. Tomorrow we could start to be a cooking blog. Would you then say I’m being paid by Sara Lee?
JR,
have to disagree with you. Like it or not, Bearing Drift has become a large source of news for Virginia Politics. You can claim that it’s your personal blog, but to many readers such as myself, it IS a source of news.
It is definitely in response to the McWaters team whining.
I guess if people exposed how horrible of a candidate he is, then it’s the fault of the people who said something?
OR perhaps a response to fall out from the obvious bias reporting of Rosemary’s past campaign manager/contributor.
Well I can tell you from personal experience Jim is square right down the middle. Calls it like he sees them and cuts both sides equally.
McWaters shouldn’t be bullying the blogs. Thats a can of whoop ass you do not want to open.
Wow Lee this might be a once in a lifetime moment, I agree with you. Well only in regard to Jim. However, Jim was never Rosemary Wilson’s campaign manager, & isn’t writing bias reports. That would be contributor BK.
http://www.rourkpr.com/political-consulting.htm
Actually Jack I think we may agree on more than you think. And dude isnt that the point of blogs and such… your media in your flavor. I know Brian too and he’s no more biased than anyone else who cares enough about politics to write blog posts at midnight. Good guys all.
Everyone on BD cares a great deal about what they do and puts substantial effort into providing commentary based on the facts as we know them.
Brian is an outstanding contributor and friend – you cannot separate me from him when it comes to this web site. Every contributor here is part of a team.
Jack, wow! You have the same IP address as Brenda Haegley who has been paid over $3,000 from Jeff McWaters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Your email denotes your last name, too, “Jack”. You want to attack me?
Since you like links, how do you like this one?
http://www.vpap.org/vendors/profile/index/94835
Jim,
“Every contributor is part of the team”
Then be a Team Captain and hold the team together. Don’t let Brian be the Republican Ben Tribbett who dug in a deep trench in a primary and then became the thorn in the side of the party’s nominee. Don’t see the resemblance? Brian and Rosemary Wilson remind me a lot of Ben and Terry McAuliffe. If McWaters wins, will Brian go the way of the Tribbett and be a party suicide bomber?
Time will tell. But Jim, YOU have the power to stop this. Bearing Drift is YOUR creation, and it’s up to YOU ensure the Bearing Drift team is in line.
“Bigvinu” might have to be reminded that he wrote “While I can respectfully [say] that I admire many bloggers aim to further their party, bashing doesn’t usually work out to be the best course of action”
Of course, now he bashes, after folding his whisper-in-the-wind blog “Common Sense for Virginia” and warns Jim about the future of Bearing Drift.
Vinu, if anyone knows about a failing blog, I’d have to admit it’s you.
Yes, Brian dead on.
It seems that I haven’t changed course at all. No, if I recall my message that blogging should be civil is just as applicable now as it was before. If I’m looking at this correctly, I see you fitting exactly into what I’m talking about of negative blogging. We clearly see who’s attacking who in this thread.
I talk about keeping the upbeat and insightful tone I (and I’d assume many other loyal Bearing Drift readers) have come to expect. My “attack” (if you can call it that) is asking Jim to keep it civil with his contributors. No, I’m not saying that as a failed blogger (I can admit that, “nothing ventured, nothing gained” I suppose), I’m saying that as a Bearing Drift reader.
If you want to play a petty game of low, personal blows, I’m sure you can talk to someone else. I’m interested seeing my favorite state-level news sites retain some sense of civility. Seriously, I really don’t want this to engage into a mud slinging contest, but you seem to do this EVERY TIME a reader calls you out on something.
Only readers who are AFRAID to tell people who they are.
I don’t really know what you’re trying to imply. From what I’ve gathered, this entire topic is Jim defending your integrity as a contributor. What thanks is going out and further demonizing readers?
Is that what you gathered? How brilliant of you! While you’re gathering, gather yourself a name and use it rather than sniveling behind an anonymous “don’t ask don’t tell” cover.
Are you happy? Do you want a biography? I use the pseudonym “Bigvinu” in gaming and on forums. If this fight has REALLY come down to calling me a coward for using a pseudonym that I use everywhere, it’s a sad moment.
I’ve dealt with people like you before. Those that really don’t care what the topic is, but they’re right and you’re wrong. Period. If you want to have a civilized conversation, that’s fine. If you wanted to pick a fight, I suppose that’s fine too.
Now good night, Mr. Kirwin.
An adult having a “gaming” name is the really sad moment.
“Only readers who are AFRAID to tell people who they are.”
As an “insider” Brian, I am sure you have come across many writers that do not use their real names. I am certainly NOT afraid to say via comments or to your face that I think you are being bias on this race. Enjoy the echo chamber you are creating. Great work team.
BRENDA
Brenda, oh staffer of McWaters, I’m biased in EVERY race.
By the way, how are things going with those forums for tax increases you were involved with?
Brian, oh Rosemary Wilson’s council campaign manager – Not sure how that forum on transportation went, I didn’t go. Not sure how my forwarding you an invite reflects involvement. Again you are deliberately mis-communicating.
I’m being lectured on miscommunication by someone who can’t decide if he/she is Jack or Brenda?
Brian,
I’m a High School student. But thanks for playing the “I can be the bigger jerk” game.
This is turning into a high school slambook atmosphere, which is unseemly and unhelpful. I know the stakes are high in primaries, but this is an intramural scrimmage, not the real opponent. Lighten up, people.
To be honest, the comment section is proving, once again, to be the best part about this site.
Personally, I could care less who advertises on your site. But, in my opinion those contributors who work directly for or with a campaign shouldn’t write or comment on articles dealing with said race. I’m not sure if that’s the current policy. If it is, great. If not… consider it. It’s an idea.
I’d look at VirginiaConservative. He’s a good example of a blogger taking himself “offline” when it comes to a campaign he was working on. As a friend of mine, I know that it wasn’t easy for him to keep his virtual “mouth” shut. But it was worth it. It not only looks bad for a member of a campaign to appear to “troll” on a site, but I think it leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths. Blogs are starting to be considered legitimate news sources by more and more people. If this truly was a person site, it should be locked and viewers should be invited. In my opinion, once a site is presented as an open source of VA political news “on demand,” a level of objectivity should be expected.
Overall, I have found no major issues when it comes to the integrity of the Bearing Drift “family”. Keep it up, I enjoy the site a lot.
Ben, your comment was the point of the post. If any contributor is working for the campaign, you won’t find that contributor writing about that race. I guess if they did, we could disclose that, but despite certain campaigns whining and coordinating control-freak syndrome outbursts, we haven’t had to.
Now, about objectivity. I have never been objective in a single post I’ve written. I write opinion pieces, and I feel absolutely no inclination to balance things by writing things I don’t believe. If I write about climate change, I’m not going to write about how wonderful the global warming nuts are and how much good they’ll do raping our economy so that they can have a windmill on their roofs. I just won’t. You get my opinion, my analysis, my thoughts. I could be wrong, and you can comment to your hearts content with another point of view. But anything I write is a long, long way from being called news.
If other contributors want to scrub their articles free of bias and write straight news, they can do that all they want. I have never been interested in that style of writing.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Ben. We don’t have to agree, but I appreciate your being involved.
I’ve been very busy the last five days cooking, cleaning and having five of my six kids come home plus three grandchildren. This is the first time I’ve read this blog. Boy oh boy, it looks like all the kids came home, had too much to drink and it got nasty with past resentments on this blog. No wonder our party has had trouble with unity until McDonnell. Good grief!!!! Someone needs to start a new blow with new and real solutions. Bigvinu, are you up for it????
Tell me this if Jeff is so proud of his record as CEO then why doesn’t he mention the company he founded and was CEO of in his TV Ad?
Brian KirwinNo Gravatar
Posted November 27, 2009 at 6:51 AM
“Now, about objectivity. I have never been objective in a single post I’ve written.”
Brian, everyone knows you support Rosemary Wilson and will blast anyone who supports Jeff McWaters.
It’s okay to do what you are more than likely being paid to do. You have to earn a living.
I am not being paid a cent. I support Jeff McWaters and I use my real name as you have pointed out in previous blogs.
I am looking for an unbiased blog where the person who starts and runs the blog isn’t paid to pick sides and seeks to hurt anyone who disagrees with them or the person they are being paid to promote.
Are there any blogs out there you can suggest?
Thank you Brian.
KM:
Try Deo Vindice. Link from this site.
Wider field of topics than BD, but still has a good deal of coverage on Tidewater politics. I’d characterize it as perhaps a bit more thoughtful in tone and it doesn’t have the Middle School argumentative style of some here. That said, there are a few good posters here as well and I always get the feeling the liberals read BD to see what conservatives are thinking. Sometimes they don’t get a clear picture.
Oh, and don’t be too hard on those who don’t post with their names. The use of call signs is common among those of us who are veterans. I have provided mine several times on this site to those who had a question, but for security reasons I do not routinely post it. I had a bad experience ten years ago when a letter I wrote to the Virginian=Pilot was edited by them (without my permission) and the editing altered the argument considerably. Without the give and take of blogs where I could try to clarify what should have been there from the beginning, some crazy was left with the wrong impression and wasn’t interested in intelligent discussion anyway. I was then subjected to constant (hard to believe but it was daily) harassment at MY HOME,lasted for three years and was only ended by me moving to a new address. Realize that the net has even more dangers than the newspaper and there are creeps out there who will do much harm if they want to. The way things are going in the country, I recommend you consider your security issues too.
Lan Astaslem. (arabic for “I will not submit”)
Dry Viking,
Wow! I am sorry that happened to you and I will consider protecting myself. Thank you.
KM:
Yes, it is a different world that we live in now.
Not paranoid, but certainly more careful.
Have a great day.
Excerpt from the Constitution of the United States:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Brian, now that you know what Dry Viking went through, it is my hope you will not expose any more “Jacks”. Not only can it be dangerous for the person in this trying age, I do not think it is in keeping with the spirit of the Constitution of the United States.
“It’s okay to do what you are more than likely being paid to do”
Kathy, you are wrong. Why do you accuse JR of lying? Me of lying. We’ve repeatedly said no one on Bearing Drift is being paid at all for our posts. Both campaigns have paid for advertising.
Really, stick to the “issues” that you SAY you are interested in and STOP NEGATIVE ATTACKS!!!!!
If “Brenda” being paid by McWaters logs in and comments using the name “Jack”, damn right I’m going to point it out. That’s called “honesty” – look it up in your dictionary that you have near your Constitution.
Really, you’re looking like a pathetic waif with your lies, suspicions and attack comments. Everyone KNOWS you hosted a meet and greet at your HOME for McWaters, so don’t come on this blog and pretend that you’re just some “interested citizen” who is reviewing all the issues in the campaign.
I did not host a meet and greet for Jeff McWaters in my home. I was going to but my twins and I had the flu and had to cancel. I have been quite clear I support Jeff McWaters.
I always want to think the best about people. It is my hope you read again Dry Vikings blog and choose to not expose anyone from now on for personal safety reasons.
Thank you Brian.
So, people who are PAID by campaigns deserve to be anonymous?
You’re recommending overturning campaign finance disclosure laws. Is that a McWaters’ campaign position?
Personal safety reasons?
Kathy, it sounds like you are making these comments to make Jeff and his campaign less accountable for their actions.
Did you know he is spending over 1 Million dollars for a primary? Is there a reason he has to break the record for amount of money spent? Is it because he can’t politically stand on his own two feet without buying everything and everyone in his way? I’ve said this since I started looking at this race and absolutely nothing has changed.
I support Rosemary because she has a record to stand on, I have not agreed with her 100 percent of the time, but if I had, I would know she was not her own person. A 14 year history of community service in VB versus, a 1.2-1.3 million dollar primary campaign.
My commitment lies in commitment to VB, not in advertising.
James, please read the blog from Dry VikingNo Gravatar Posted November 29, 2009 at 8:30 AM on this page. His experience he shared with all of us is what I am referring to. After reading what he went through, I think I should not have used my full name. He is right, times have changed.
James, I do not represent Jeff McWaters. I just support him because of his proven track record of bringing and keeping jobs in Virginia, his business experience and now that I have gotten to know him and met some of his friends, his life of community service and serving in his church. I appreciate his life.
Virginians need business people who have a proven track record in bringing and keeping jobs in Virginia.
What is wonderful about being in a free country, you can support who you wish and so can I.
Kathy,
You are right, that is what makes America great. Support whoever you feel is right.
As for the personal safety issue, who knows what he wrote about, and this is not the Virginian Pilot. Don’t use someone else’s personal experience as the basis for your beliefs. Not to mention, we are all on the same team at the end of this.
I think people deserve to know more about the man trying to represent them then a 30 second TV Ad can ever portray. If he wins, I don’t want this district to be a stepping stone for his personal political motives. I want someone dedicated to the city, and Rosemary has demonstrated that without question.
The state governments created those jobs by giving Amerigroup those contracts in their respective states, he employs 1700 people here at the expense of other states taxpayers. Not that I think it’s a bad thing to have those jobs here whatsoever, but there is a difference between that and a manufacturing company who deals exclusively in the private sector.
Successful business skills do not translate to successful political skills…government is run very differently than a business and answers to different stakeholders as well.
Kathy, maybe you have a point. With all the threats the McWaters team has tossed around about me, maybe I should use a fake name, too.
Thanks for this great post. I surely enjoyed every little bit of it. I have you bookmarked and will be checking back.
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