The Power Of Blogging

I started this blog because I had thoughts and ideas I wanted to share. I try to make what I write (and or link to) here interesting, funny and/or informative. But I don’t break any stories here and I doubt that will change soon. But bloggers can and do break stories and these stories can have profound effects. Take Michael Brodkorb’s "Minnesota Democrats Exposed" for instance. Brodkorb’s blog is having a profoundly negative effect on Al Franken’s Minnesota Senate Campaign. Franken is the former SNL writer/performer who became Air America’s liberal answer to Rush Limbaugh. That didn’t work out so well as Air America has teetered on the edge of bankruptcy virtually since its founding. Franken decided to return to the state where he was raised to run for the Senate. That’s where Brodkorb and his blog come in. As AP reported:

From the kitchen table in his tranquil suburban neighborhood, Brodkorb for the last year has used his blog "Minnesota Democrats Exposed" to launch a furious political assault on Franken. He's labeled the former comedian and liberal commentator a "mean-spirited and un-Minnesotan" candidate who's running a "desperate and ridiculous" campaign.

That's routine stuff in the world of political blogging, but in the last two months Brodkorb has scored two direct hits that have the Franken campaign reeling. Brodkorb scooped the traditional media by detailing extensive bookkeeping problems in New York and California that ultimately prompted Franken, this week, to pay about $70,000 in back taxes to 17 states.

The stories have knocked Franken off balance as he prepares to take on Sen. Norm Coleman, in what's expected to be one of the most expensive and toughest-fought U.S. Senate races this year.

What effect has this story had on the Franken campaign? As Minnesota Democrats Exposed reports:

“A new SurveyUSA poll shows voters are turned off by Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken’s recent tax problems.

The 500-person survey showed 59 percent of people say Franken’s tax issues make them less likely to vote for him. Franken failed to pay for workers’ compensation insurance for his personal corporation and to pay income tax in 17 states since 2003. Just 31 percent said the problems made no difference.

More than half, 51 percent, said Franken should withdraw from the race, while 38 percent said he should stay in.

Another SurveyUSA poll of 700 adults showed Sen. Norm Coleman (R) reopening his lead over Franken, 52-42. Franken had narrowed the gap in recent months to near-even. Franken had the support of 67 percent of Democrats, while Coleman received 99 percent of Republicans. Franken maintained a sizable edge among independents, though, 57-33.” Source: The Hill, May 5, 2008

I always found Franken entertaining on SNL. Here’s hoping he loses so he can go back to telling political jokes instead of being one himself. Maybe someday I will get to break a story that will break a Democrats heart.