WP's Milbank: DNC made a "terrible mistake" in emailing journos

[Lucille]

From this morning's chat:

http://tinyurl.com/6c7nc

Ames, Iowa: I'm a blogger, and I'm wondering what your thoughts are on the innumerable Internet polls that were pounced on last night at the encouragement of top blogs and national parties. How much of an impact do they have, and what do they tell us?

Dana Milbank: The internet polls are of almost no use because they are easy to manipulate by the parties. In fact, the DNC sent an email to supporters with links to all the internet polls urging supporters to vote early and often. The instant polls by Gallup et al are of more value, but still suspect until confirmed by more extensive polling.

The DNC made a terrible mistake, I think, in forwarding hundreds of supporters' emails to reporters, flooding inboxes just as the journalists were on deadline. Some of my colleagues got nearly 700 emails, all with individuals' names but apparently sent by the DNC. This has produced much aggravation in the press corps.

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Did this really happen? I have my doubts because Milbank also says that Bush was "strong" (!) and that his performance improved as the evening went on. On what planet?

[Vickers]

1. Hmmm...when progressives practice online activism, it's bad

Hey, I'm starting to get the hang of this!

[bryant69]

9. Truthfully there's almost nothing we progressives can't screw up

According to many conservatives. I mean look at how they react when Kerry changes his policy as opposed to when Bush changes his?

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[mmonk]

2. Obviously they don't get the message

that they are the ones questionable. If they can become journalists again instead of stooges for the GOP, I'll cut them some slack.

[madrchsod]

3. dana- the republicans do the same thing...

opps i forgot ,your friends (employer) would never do anything like that.

[MikeG]

4. Dana Milbank - meet the word "FREEP"

Why is someone so clueless working a national beat for the Washington Post?

[shrike]

5. Whaa??

Bush's performance was STRONG?

Fortunately, those who watched the debate know what we saw.

[high density]

6. 700 emails? So what

That didn't change anything since they're obviously still spinning it up for Bush.

[autorank]

7. Does that mean journalists will treat the Democrats worse?

I admire good journalism. I have not seen any in the Washington Post for about 10 years. The discerning readership in the DC area is fed up to the gills with a bunch of effete, smug, and, IMHO, intellectually lazy journalists. In general, there is virtually no investigative reporting, there is no accountability, and the Stewart show is the most 'trusted' news source by 42% of the public polled. No offense to Milbank but how much harm can be done to a profession that did what they did to Gore in 2000 and smeared Kerry by proxy with the attention given to the Swift Boat Liars?

[Bandit]

8. I think we just caught Milbank in a Blantant LIE

"the DNC sent an email to supporters with links to all the internet polls urging supporters to vote early and often."
I can not believe the DNC would ask people to vote more than once on any issue. We do not advocate cheating as does the GOP.

[YNGW]

10. Here's the DNC e-mail I received

National and local news organizations will be conducting online polls during and after the debate asking for readers' opinions. Look for online polls at these national news websites, and make sure to vote in every one of them.


Immediately after the debate, go online and write a letter to the editor of your local paper. If you feel John Kerry commanded the debate and had a clear plan for fixing the mess in Iraq, put it in your letter. If you feel George Bush dodged tough questions on Iraq and didn't level with voters, put it in your letter.


Do you listen to national or local call-in shows on the radio? How about on TV? Call them and let them know what you thought of John Kerry's plan to keep America secure and George Bush's continuing refusal to admit the truth about his record.

Your actions immediately after the debate tonight can help John Kerry win on November 2.

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I chopped it down, but that was the jest of it.