My son constantly tells me I “underestimate my reach”. I’d like to consider it humility, but in doing this, I try and bring readers/viewers a different perspective on topics and people and that sometimes requires reaching out to newsmakers that I have some inside access to. It’s also a frustrating evolution as well.
During the 2008 campaign, I developed a contact within the McCain campaign and while they wrote-off New England (which now looks like a very dumb move given the final vote tally), I reached out to Sarah Palin. We offered her a large venue, easy access to an airport within minutes of said venue, exposure to Western Massachusetts as well the New England media markets that would have covered the event, and we were turned down.
Since, I’ve made contact with someone inside the Palin camp requesting a video interview with Sarah so I could ask her questions no one else would. To this day, this audience hasn’t been deemed worthy of her time, despite the thousands of words used to defend her against vicious liberal attacks as well as her son, and at times her daughter.
Yet we all know that should she announce a bid for the presidency, she’ll be the first person to ask us all to drop everything and come to the aid of her campaign with our dollars and time.
The other disappointment is Congressman Allen West’s people.
As many of you know, I met him at CPAC last year, I do believe he claimed to have heard of this site, and he introduced me to a nice young lady who could hook me up with an interview should he win his election. Since then, I’ve been put in touch with another woman who, despite my informing her the congressman knows who I am, has not aided our attempts for a ten-minute sit down.
I know B&R doesn’t reach millions of people like a Fox News, but depending where I choose to post, we do have a reach anywhere up to a couple hundred thousand and that can mean the difference between victory and defeat.
Anyone whom we have interviewed can attest to the fact we try and be as unobtrusive as possible. We don’t come in with a crew of ten with cables all over the floor. We’re usually off location within ten minutes after the interview is over, and as conservatives, we’ve never gone for the got’cha. We keep the interviewee’s words in context with minimal editing, if any.
Again, these people will need our help one day and will expect us to drop everything and assist them. There are some whose people are so rude, it’s reflected in my coverage of the newsmaker. Some of you have wondered why certain people you may like gets negative treatment here. Most of the time it’s because of inside treatment like this.
So, I won’t be bothering Sarah Palin or Allen West’s people any more. I have some other interviews in the works with hopefully better results with nicer people.
Bob… I don’t blame you, and free market prinicpled conservatives should keep this in mind when dealing with people, or at least you would think customer service or communication in general would be understood but burning bridges seems to be their way.
Sorry this happens to you Bob.
It’s okay. I have a long memory and I do hold grudges.
Sorry to hear that about West. I’d like to think it’s because he’s got the wrong people working for him, but as a military man, he knows where the buck stops.
His people should learn to get the lay of the land and, like James Longstreet, appreciate the value of terrain.
Anyone who’s been around the Hill knows a lot of those staffers are very young, now have overinflated egos, and believe they can treat people any way they want because of whom they work for.
While at Fox, I heard the saying “The people you fuck over on the way up, are the people you meet on the way down”. Like I said, I have a long memory.
oh that sucks, Bob. Big Time. craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap. Well, one guy I know, in California Republican politics, feels an obligation to get back to people whenever he can, one way or another. In my experience, I usually get a reply back from him in a couple of days, should I message him. That man is a RARE breed, you could say. That man, is Chuck Devore.
Your little spinning globe, complete with red dots, shows how much of a reach B&R has. My hats off to you, kind sir.
I am more disappointed in Col. West than Palin.
I for one certainly hope that this post will put the situation in front of West’s eyes…
Does this mean you’ll interview Romney, then? Huh? Huh?
(I just *had* to yank your chain, i just had to…)
Igor
I am not too far from Orlando right now & I know how to get in touch with LTC Adam West & will do so Saturday. I will also let him know of my displeasure & that of every one here about getting the run around by some of his “help”! I can’t guarantee he will be available, but I have talked to him before he was elected & he has answered most of my email to him. I suppose he has a busy schedule, but so do many people & they still answer phone calls & email. It can’t hurt to try & since I have a big mouth, I say what I think regardless of who is on the receiving end.
Does this mean the WH won’t take your calls any more, ONYFF??
Igor