Attribute Qutoes to My Blog Please

I picked up this week's PW today. Well, first, I read it online and then I picked it up. It's their Next issue about what they think are the trends of tomorrow. Their third to last story [scroll all the way down] is about the PA Senate race. They want anyone but Sen. Man on Dog. I'm not gonig to get into a huge rant about how I just fucking hate the "anyone but x" candidacy and that I prefer being "pro x" [in this case Chuck Pennacchio], I'll leave it at that.

What I will get into a longer rant is over how they lifted a quote from the comments of this blog and didn't fully attribute them to this blog.

Gwen Shaffer writes:

Republican challenger John Featherman, in a blog post, noted that both Sandals and Pennacchio are "very lucky." "Without each other, there would be no debate," Featherman writes. Santorum currently refuses to debate him, although Santorum says he looks forward to taking on Casey. Featherman's irked by that. "Can you say hypocrite?"

That's my blog post and Featherman's comment on my blog post. She lifted the comment from this post on the Neighborhood Netowrks - African American Coalition Candiate Forum at the end of January.

I saw Shaffer there. I recognized her from when I used to work at PW from mid 2004 to mid 2005. I don't think I ever met her though, but I definitely remembered her face. I think it's great that she took a gander at my blog and in particular that post. I think it's great that she bothered to stick around and delve into the comments. I think it's great that she quoted from those comments. I don't think it's great that she didn't attribute the origin of that comment. Yes, there are concerns about space and every word or few words matter when you're dealing with column inches and the entire staff writing a bunch of already on the short side stories. I'd think it would be easier to cut from a long piece to properly attribute something like this to the proper source, but hey, PW didn't and I have this little space of minie to bitch about it, even though I'm mostly happy about it.

So I'm posting about someone writing about a comment in response to one of my posts. The circle is comlete.

Comments

[John Featherman]

Albert,

I saw that quote, too, in the PW, and I honestly didn't remember where I wrote it. At first, I thought I posted it to Above Average Jane. Now, after reading your comments, I recognize I posted it here.

I'm sorry that you were not attributed as the source. You should have been. I can't speak for Ms. Shaffer, but I think she honestly forgot. I know that's no excuse for you, though.

For what it's worth, I'd like to say how much I appreciate that you allow me to post here. Although you are part of another candidate's team (Chuck Pennacchio), you have always been kind enough to offer me a forum to express my views without censorship. Not all blogs do that. Some have removed my postings even though I've presented my views in a civil and dignified manner. You have also been polite to me even though many of my political views differ from yours. For that, I thank you for your diplomacy.

I can say -- without reservation -- that the best part of this campaign for me has been interacting with wonderfully intelligent, thought-provoking bloggers. I find the bloggers to be more inclusive of all candidates than so-called mainstream journalists. Additionally, I find the articles written by you, AboveAvgJane, ACM, ManDrake and LVDem to all be adding new knowledge not found elsewhere.

So even though you weren't quoted, Albert, I give you credit for much more than that!

John Featherman
Republican Candidate, US Senate-PA
www.featherman.com

[Davey D]

That sucks that she didn't cite your blog. She should've omitted the picture of Casey's dumb face in order to room to mention your blog. Or she could've at least put up a picture of Chuck and Alan instead of Cowardly Casey who couldn't be bothered to even show up to the debate.