Blogging and Consulting: Our Policy

There has been much discussion and much angst in the liberal blogosphere since the DailyKos scandal broke. The basis for such discussions are advertising on blogs and bloggers who also consult. Or consultants who also blog. There is a difference. Bloggers who also consult are those professional bloggers (they make their living from their blogs) who are then hired by campaigns to do their blogs, blog for them at major sites like Dailykos, or act as overall internet consultants.

Consultants who blog are those who make their living primarily from consulting but who also blog or have blogs. So there is a difference. There are no recognized standards in the blogosphere other than, if you work or worked for a candidate you disclose that relationship. I have done so in all my blogging. I worked for Lois Herr in 2004, for PA Victory 04, and for Chuck Pennacchio in 2004 and 2005. I was Chuck's Interim Campaign Coordinator so that's an important disclosure.

I began this blog because of disagreements with what some bloggers were doing ethically and legally. As the word about Jerome Armstrong's SEC violations spread and many people used that to criticize Markos Moulitsas I stayed pretty quiet. I wrote two short pieces but I thought the blogosphere was allowing itself to become too distracted by side issues.

The issues about bloggers and advertising/consulting have not gone away. Maryscott O'Connor of My Left Wing, a blogger I have utmost respect for, took a very principled stand and one every blogger should follow. She has declared she will not accept paid advertising from any candidate. Fearful she might mitigate criticism if she is receiving advertising revenue and also fearful simply of the appearance of such, she has adopted the strongest ethical stance I know.

Another noted blogger, Richard Silverstein has put the issue this way:

"[H]ow does a political blogger who endorses candidates at his site create a transparent environment when he may also be consulting for — or have some other undisclosed relationship with — some of these same candidates?"

I endorse candidates at this blog. I am also a consultant and someone who has managed campaigns. Though I disclose my past relationships with candidates I also agree with Maryscott that a blogger should not accept revenue from candidates. Therefore any ad you may see on The Pennsylvania Progressive is there because I endorse that candidate. It will not be there as a paid advertisement from that campaign.

Any candidate I am consulting for will also be disclosed whenever I write about that candidate or their opposition.