Bob McCarty Writes

The folks at Brown Books Publishing issued a news release today about a new book, One Nation Under Blog: Forget the Facts … Believe What I Say! by David G. Wallace.  I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS BOOK for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that the author is a blogger himself (more on that later).

The book’s title implies that all bloggers ignore facts and deal only in hearsay, rumor and innuendo.  As a blogger who holds a journalism degree and boasts decades of experience working in and around the media business, I prove the author and his generalization wrong from the get-go.

The news release’s opening line alerts one to the fact that the author’s point of view is that of a former mayor — and a Republican at that!  As a political junkie, I rarely believe a politician without first confirming his statement through at least three reliable sources.

David G. Wallace, Author

The news release includes this quote from the author:

“Political blogs are giving our presidential candidates’ grassroots supporters and detractors the opportunity to influence others unlike any prior election”

That leads me to ask, “Got a problem with that?  Sounds like free speech to me.”

Through the news release, Wallace goes on to say that the 2008 election will set a precedent for the future with the speed and volume of information disseminated, regardless of accuracy.  To me, that sounds as if he doesn’t like the fact that ordinary citizens might now operate in a manner identical to the politicians they elect to office.

Perhaps the straw that broke this blogger’s back was the fact that the Houston-area author included an endorsement from disgraced one-time CBS Evening News anchor Dan Rather — also a Houston native and probably a family friend — in his news release:

“One Nation Under Blog raises important questions and represents a contribution to a long-overdue public conversation about blogs and their effects.”

Seriously, does he think Rather’s name is going to help him sell books to anyone other than his relatives?

But that’s not the whole of it!  The author ends his pitch by saying this:

Ultimately, One Nation Under Blog appeals to bloggers to consider the consequences of their words, incidental or intentional. Wallace further challenges bloggers to adopt a code of conduct and realize the unlimited potential for blogging as a force for freedom, safety and security for future generations.

In response, I challenge the author and his political counterparts, past and present, to do the same and promise that I’m going to keep an eye on Wallace.  Lucky for me, he makes it easy.  All I will have to do is visit HIS BLOG which, by the way, is barely one week old.

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