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Is the Maryland GOP really that stupid? (hint, you betcha)

Is the Maryland GOP really that stupid? (hint, you betcha)

Denies media credentials to political bloggers, including Legal Insurrection

I literally had to walk outside for some fresh air to calm down after I received the email below from David Ferguson, Executive Director of the Maryland GOP.

I wrote, expecting an explanation that it all was just a misunderstanding:

I have read about the restrictions for credentialing bloggers, http://www.quintonreport.com/2013/04/18/md-gop-cracks-down-on-bloggers/.

The operative limitation seems to be this sentence:

“MARYLAND REPUBLICAN PARTY will not allow journalists to register as “media” for the purpose of writing a personal online blog, ….”

Can you explain what you mean by “personal online blog”? For example, would a blog which covers politics be able to get media credentials?

Use Legal Insurrection as an example. If we applied, would you give us media credentials?

I plan on writing about this soon, so please respond as soon as possible..

Thanks,

William A. Jacobson
Legal Insurrection Blog

The response:

Hey William,

Thanks for your e-mail. Credentials are for members of the press. If you have a sponsoring media outlet like the Washington Post, Annapolis Capital, or WBAL or if you have been registered with the capitol press corps, we would be glad to consider your application.

We’d be happy to have you join us and if you would like to register for the Spring Convention, please visit http://www.mdgop.org/convention/.  The cost is $75.

Please let me know if you need anything else.

Thanks.

David

[as he shakes at the keyboard trying to frame a reasoned response]

Why would you want to discourage political bloggers from attending your convention? CPAC gave us media credentials, so am I to assume that your Spring Convention is so much more important than CPAC that we’re not good enough for you?

Why would you let in for free The Washington Post which is going to trash, distort and mock anything you do or say, but charge admission to people who support your candidates and want to help?

Must be because the Maryland GOP is doing so well at electing members of Congress without the help of bloggers. Oh wait.

Maryland Congressional Delegation 2013

Nah, must be your success at the state level.  Oh wait.

Maryland State Offices 2013

Da Stuped Parti (that’s blogger speak for #Losers).

Thank God for Dan Bongino, Maryland’s last and best hope:

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Comments

[…] Is the Maryland GOP really that stupid? (hint, you betcha) – Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion. “Denies media credentials to political bloggers, including Legal Insurrection” […]

DINORightMarie | April 18, 2013 at 2:38 pm

Maybe Mr. Bongino can speak to the GOP and get bloggers in.

He hopes to be the Republican nominee for governor; he should have some say…

[…] blogging: Legal Insurrection America Victorious […]

“Why would you want to discourage political bloggers from attending your convention?”

Stupidity and arrogance probably factor in heavily.

Or…

we kinda like having our narrative set by a “sponsoring media outlet like the Washington Post, Annapolis Capital, or WBAL or if you have been registered with the capitol press corps”

…and we are worried about any effective counter-narrative.

Amazing.

Giving them the benefit of every doubt, it could be a form of Stockholm Syndrome. They’ve become used to being the abused stepchildren, so if the Democrats aren’t around, they just whip themselves.

Maybe they are afraid you’ll discover they are a wholly owned subsidiary of the Maryland Democrat party.

Or, maybe they’re just plain old idiots.

BIRM

Maryland is like California: there is no effective Republican party. The Democratic Party has been entrenched and is corrupt, but it’s the only game in town, and so people who want to influence public policy will be Democrats.

So, yeah, the people you will contact in the Republican Party are uuhhh, amateurs.

1. Is the ______ GOP really that stupid?

No need for a hint. I know the default answer. Read my lips.

2. Instapundit:

“JUST A BLOGGER:” Judge rules Union County blogger is protected by the state’s shield law. “In a decision that could impact bloggers across New Jersey, a Superior Court judge ruled today that a self-declared citizen watchdog who writes stinging critiques of Union County government has the same legal protections as a professional journalist.”

4. The people behind the MD policy are content to control a miniscule party which has influence only when the Democrats are divided. They prefer that cozy situation to sharing power in a dynamic party with growth potential.

The Republican Party is filled with idiots, and I say that as a Registered Republican. In fact, they are filled with such idiots, that because of stupidity like this, and Rand Paul’s vote to confirm Chuck Hagel after opposing him in debate…(Here’s a CLUE Rand, your VOTE IS YOUR OPINION, you can’t oppose someone then vote for their confirmation without being a class A Hypocrite)…

That I’m going down to the post office right after this post, and registering independent.

    Paul in reply to Paul. | April 18, 2013 at 3:37 pm

    Update: After 33 years of being a registered Republican, today, like Ronald Reagan saying the democratic party left him, I am today a registered Independent. I didn’t leave the Republican Party, they left me. I hope they figure things out soon, because if there are more people like me, which I’m sure there are, the Republicans will need an intervention if they keep down this path.

Henry Hawkins | April 18, 2013 at 3:16 pm

They’d probably love blogger support from the right, just not the wrong kind. You know… conservatives.

I begin to wonder if it is only the American voters who select their party based on their beliefs and values, while politicians pick a party based on electability.

I know a trick question when I see one

The Maryland GOP–legends in their own minds!

Mr. Jacobson, you know what is going on…. The GOP establishmantarians have declared war on grass roots activity. Bloggers are viewed as parts of the grass roots so political red lining is being applied.

And here I was of the opinion we Irish were our own worst enemies. Seems the Maryland GOP is striving to replace us.

Mr. Jacobson, Seems the reply to your email by Maryland Republican party gave you bucket full to write about and saved you $75 getting there… Democratic Bloggers enjoy their lunch at the expense of the ahpless GOP…. I reckon they could use a few Democratic defectors to consult. Dems will kiss the backsides of loyal bloggers (NetRoots Nation) GOP are still invested in establishment media… Give yourself a little present Send em a bumper sticker with the following “I’d really like to help but I can’t fix stupid”

Professor, the last Republican I know of that held public office was the former Howard County Executive Harry Hughes. He was replaced after two terms by the smallest (less than 5′ tall) Senator – Barbara Mikulski.

[…] members, maintaining principles in the face of bad legislation, the independent blogger issue which came up yesterday, Tampa rules changes, gay marriage and the LGBT vote, and whether to compromise principles for […]

It is apparent that Republicans in deep blue states are particularly susceptible to stupidity. Just observe the actions of the GOP in New York State.

    Paul in reply to paulejb. | April 20, 2013 at 2:07 am

    If they were smarter, then the state just might be purple or red instead of deep blue? Things to consider.

[…] Cornell Law associate professor William Jacobson, on his Legal Insurrection blog, asks “Is the Maryland GOP really that stupid? (hint, you betcha).” […]

[…] Thursday we learned that the Maryland Republican Party views bloggers as a cash cow and not a legitimate source of news and information. (Really, I should say independent bloggers […]