Blog Hillary is Live

Marianne Richmond — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 13:53:06 -0600

Hillary Clinton's blog went live yesterday with two posts. One from Special Guest Blogger, Kelly G from SC who says she is a first time voter and another post from Crystal Patterson with a "welcome to the campaign's new blog". Kelly G apparently had the winning post from the thousands that Patterson says were submitted in response to Hillary's request last month.

Patterson says she is going to be blogging for the campaign as Hillary travels around the country. She previously blogged for Daily Kos. Although CBS labels the Clinton campaign Hillary 2.0, many in social media including BL Ochman and thus of us bloggingÂ at Blog The Campaign in '08 see something a little short of 2.0. The candidate is not blogging herself.

There is something called a Hillcast on line where Clinton says she wants us to know what she is thinking and wants to know what we are thinking. This is a 1.0 format though. She broadcasts. We listen.

Donna Bogatin asks the question regarding social media conversations in the presidential campaign: Talking or Selling? Bogatin answers, "Every word uttered in her Web â€œconversationsâ€ with voters will be as scripted as her promotional stump speeches."

Patterson says, "We want all of you to join the conversation, even if you've never participated on a blog before. Whether it's here on blogHillary, or across the blogosphere, I encourage all of you to make your voices heard."Â

OK, I am a little confused. Crystal Patterson, writing for Blog Hillary wants us to join the conversation; Hillary has also stated that she wants a conversation.Â Where is the conversation with Hillary?

Hillary has bloggers, but she is not blogging.

Taegan Goddard says that Clinton, " is actually executingÂ two communications strategies at the same time," Goddard said. While posturing herself on TV as the go-to Democrat opposing Mr. Bush's Iraq strategy, "she's also trying to get the hard core political junkies, and the best way to get those people is not to go on the evening news. It is to go online."

Well of course, she is online and offline. Not really two different communication strategies. Just different media channels. However, blogs are social media, which is a participatory media. There is a difference. When there is an intermediary in the conversation it is not exactly the same. And its not that a candidate has to participate in social media. Its just that it would be better if they stopped saying that they were. It makes us think that they don't get it.

Â And really, Hill you need some accessories on that blog,Â right David?

Tags: Hillary Clinton Blog, Hillary Clinton, Campaign08, social media, David Armano, Taegan Goddard, Bl Ochman,Â Crystal Patterson, Tags: Blog The Campiagn In 08, Hillcast, Donna Bogatin,Â Daily Kos, Jeralyn Merritt,Â CBS News

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Blog Hillary is Live