As much as it breaks my heart, I won't be attending the upcoming YearlyKos confab, even though it's taking place practically in my backyard, and even though I've been hanging around this wonderful site since the days when a UID came in the low four digits.
I've become the primary caregiver for my ailing, elderly mother, and while I will be at McCormick Place in spirit, constraints on time and finances will be keeping me at home, checking in at my computer as much as circumstances permit.
But I know who will be there: National and international media by the boatload. And many Kossacks may find themselves facing an interesting dilemma...
The appearance of every top-tier Democratic presidential candidate, the Speaker Of The House, and the Senate Majority Leader assures a huge mainstream media presence.
Stir in the latest rabid ranting of Falafel Bill, and the corporate media's mixture of fascination/fearfulness/ignorance of the blogosphere, and the spotlight will be shining bright down by Chicago's lakefront.
And I'm willing to bet that none of the RWCM in attendance will be there to exercise an agenda to the degree that the Fox News Network will be. Look! Hippies! Radicals! People who hate America plunking away on...GASP...Macbooks!
There's been an ongoing debate on this site as to how progressive organizations, members of the Democratic leadership, and Democratic officeholders should deal with Fox. Many argue that these individuals shouldn't even appear on Fox, since doing so only lends an air of legitimacy to an outlet that will still only make at best a half-hearted attempt to pretend to be objective. Others argue that we must bring the fight to the other side, and that to stay away from Fox would be nothing more than a capitulation.
Those of you attending YearlyKos may soon find yourself dealing with that dilemma in a very personal manner. And so my question to you:
When some Fox Flunky shoves a microphone in your face, what will you do?
Will you shove the microphone back in their face? Will you ask them if that's a loofah in their pocket, or if they are just happy to see you?
Will you politely decline, explaining that you're happy to speak to any journalists who may want to interview you, but you won't cooperate with the GOP's Ministry Of Propaganda?
Will you take a deep breath, smile warmly, and attempt to engage in an earnest and calm-voiced discussion of why you are there, why you are a progressive, and why you can't wait to see George W. Bush out of office, knowing in the back of your mind that Fox will likely leave your interview either entirely on the cutting room floor, or dishonestly edited to make you and your fellow conventioneers look as bad as possible?
And to those of you who frequent this site but will not be attending YearlyKos: What do you think an appropriate response would be?