Sunday, November 1, 2009

Joey's Take: Tail Wagging

One of the campaign tasks I find most challenging is figuring out which of the zillions of issues out there to bark about. I blame this on technology. The 24-7 news frenzy has to have something to barf up; that means a lot of comments and events get exaggerated, twisted and sensationalized. Talk about the tail wagging the dog!

It’s not all the media’s fault. The anonymity and ubiquity of the internet also are to blame. (Yes, I know some of these are big words for a dog, but because of my species, I have to work twice as hard to get people to take my campaign seriously.)

Have you read the hatred spewing out on some of these online comment boards? I can tell you, the worst of it is not from conservatives. The most offensive name-calling, vitriolic rhetoric is coming from so-called “tolerant” liberals. When I read this stuff, I wonder if we can ever be one nation under God.

Of course, it’s one thing for people to verbally bite each other on an anonymous forum in the name of public discourse. But, as a candidate for Congress, I draw the line at our representatives and senators standing up on the floor of their chamber and reading lies and gutter talk into the Congressional Record. Are the words of Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) really the legacy we want to leave as the archives of our time?

Arf! Here’s where the media come back in. Grayson has learned that as a freshman rep without rock-star status, he gets no attention when he’s just doing his job. Nope, the only time he gets his 15 minutes of fame is to engage in Hugo Chavez-inspired speeches. If the media would stop rewarding him with mic time, he’d focus on his job instead of his sound bites (pun intended).

I can assure you that if I’m elected to Congress, I won’t have to pull a Grayson to get my 15 minutes.

I’m Joey. I’m a rock-star dog. And I approved this blog – even though it doesn't carry the White House seal of approval.

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