A Concern Troll’s Publicity Stunt
I can’t help but be amused by the firestorm kicked up over the comments by Democratic strategist and “rural liaison” Dave “Mudcat” Saunders (thankfully, no relation). To his credit, he’s savvy enough to realize that the best way to get free publicity and respect among the punditocracy is to pick a fight with the liberal blogosphere. So that’s what he did with a post entitled “Go Ahead And Shoot At Me” in which he argues against the “stereotyping of my people and culture” by stereotyping the people he doesn’t agree with. Taking a lesson from his co-blogger Joe Klein, “Mudcat” hides his criticism behind a vague label (the “Metropolitan Wing”) so he can insult a broad swath of his peers without ever having to name names. That way, if he’s confronted for his actions, he can always pull the “I wasn’t talking about you” trick.
But this isn’t about some Dixie-whistling Mr. Smith taking on the intellectual elitists who have taken over his party. You don’t get to write your first blog post at Time.com by being an outsider. It’s about currying favor with the beltway insiders who pay his bills (like the campaigns of Mark Warner, John Edwards, Bob Graham, and Jim Webb). By provoking a firestorm with the netroots, “Mudcat” not only insulates himself from opinionated brutes like us, but he further cements his reputation as the go-to guy to save the Democratic party from coastal elitists, bile-spewing atheists, and any other GOP stereotype of liberals that he can muster. Any criticism of his broad attack on his fellow liberals is just another example of the “arrogance and intolerance” that he’s up against.
Like John McCain’s straight-talking “Maverick”, Dave Saunders’ “Mudcat” persona is the schtick he uses to get work from campaign managers who are stupid enough to believe you can pay a guy to help you simulate a fondness for “the Heartland”. “Mudcat” is a poor-man’s Carville, Bob Shrum with an accent, and he’s just plain boring. The precision with which “Mudcat” was able to inspire controversy within the liberal blogosphere is impressive, even if it does end up feeling choreographed and predictable. Congrats, “Mudcat”, you’ve made all the right enemies, but to end this on a conciliatory note, let me welcome you to the blogosphere by echoing your wish that bloggers who “believe the only way to win an argument is to shot the loudest with personal attacks, you can go to Hell”. Now, what did you mean by “pseudo-intellectual arrogance” again?
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It really is a clever shtick for a political consultant.
After all, there are millions of dollars floating around and many lingering misunderstandings among the less-tech savvy candidates (field-wide) about what those crazy elites in the blogosphere do… and don’t look now, here comes the inevitable contrarian case he will make for ignoring them.
The blustery foray and contrarian approach alone should earn him a few looks over from campaign managers, despite the wrong-headedness of it. The premise that his approach is based upon (must cater to rural southern populism and anti-intellectualism) is likely to be neither innovative or effective this cycle… but it is kickass for Mudcat’s brand. His brand recognition in this cycle is shooting up for this particular niche, and he is hawking his consultant wares.
I write this from one of those coastal blue states, Michigan, and I am one of those elitist blog consumers who has to fight off the paparazzi every time I’m lucky enough to go to my glamorous day job where I put up drywall with my hands. It’s my own slice of personal elitism that Mudcat’s little trope pisses off to no end.
An interesting debate would be whether he’s a phony who’s strayed too far from his much ballyhooed roots (you will never forget I’m from a farm or whatever, how dare you ask me if I was born in a barn) to know just wtf he is talking about when waxing stupid about politics and the mythical real Americans.
Comment by Alex (D-No) — June 11, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
You are spot-on with this. Seems to me that Mudcat is describing Howard Dean’s strategy to a ‘t,’ but last I recall, Dems like him were hounding Dean out of the Presidental race, and trying to block his election to DNC chair, by calling him a metropolitan elite and denouncing his foolish use of them fancy city things like the internet.
BTW, the NASCAR baseball cap is a nice touch for the picture, Mudcat. We’ll know which Dems hire him at the next debate, when he’ll have his clients wear “I’m with stupid” T-shirts.
Comment by Whistler Blue — June 12, 2007 @ 10:37 am
Hey, um, isn’t this a bit harsh? I think Mudcat’s just a little confused. I read this today, and it seems Mr. Saunders is saying many things bloggers say a lot. You could certainly argue that bloggers won Webb’s campaign by keeping the heat on for economic populism. If Mudcat wrote the same exact post, but derided mainstream Dems INSTEAD of bloggers, who would disagree with him?
I think he’s just confused. He thinks he’s our enemy, but he’s our friend. Right? Or am I the one who’s wrong?
Comment by Erik Swanson — June 12, 2007 @ 11:39 pm
FYI, I always win my arguments when I “shot the loudest with personal attacks.” This being an example.
Comment by Joe — June 14, 2007 @ 1:12 pm