Sarah Palin Has Credibility; Being Hired By CNN Not So Much

Back in the dim and distant past, I interviewed Kerry Livgren, best known for his work with the American progressive rock band Kansas in the ’70s and author of such classics as “Dust In The Wind” and “Carry On Wayward Son”. Livgren became a Christian while he was with Kansas. When I asked him about how he, as an established artist in regular music, viewed his reception by the Christian music marketplace the reply was, “There was a lot of ‘oh, look at us; we’ve got credibility now’. As if you needed me to bring credibility to Jesus Christ.”

This came to mind earlier today when noting the torrent of effluent praise being tossed Erick Erickson’s way. Erickson, known for his high profile at the RedState blog which presently averages a shade under 130,000 site visits a day, has gained employment with Ted Turner’s creation, the evil empire of disinformation otherwise known as CNN.

And people are falling all over themselves over this bit of news exactly why?

Erickson was one of the leading temper tantrum throwers earlier this year when Sarah Palin said no thanks to CPAC, appearing instead at the Tea Party Convention. He subsequently did an about face and turned himself into a Palin fanboy. So he told us, time and again. Shockingly, the genuine Palin supporters didn’t buy it. Erickson blows hard, as in blowhard, while blowing with the wind. He’ll be perfect for CNN. And it is no coincidence that his main cheerleaders today are of similar ilk, otherwise known as the “I like her but…” crowd that feigns honest, objective opinion about all things Palin but when analyzed are of the Caribou Barbie mindset with a very thin veneer of candy coated conservatism attempting to hide the truth.

Back to Erickson’s hiring by CNN. There are two fallacies at play in the notion it is a great day for the right wing social media. First, the mindset following the lines mentioned by Kerry Livgren. “Ooh, look, we have one of ‘ours’ in the mainstream media now. We have credibility! They respect us now!” But of course. Was anyone saying this when Glenn Beck had a daily show on CNN? No. So why is this better? You’re panning for fool’s gold if you believe someone from new media joining traditional media means they now love and honor you to itsy bitsy pieces. No, they want that person because they believe their presence will get you and others of your ilk to watch, listen or read. Which means a bigger audience. Which means greater ad revenue. That is all it means. Period.

Second, such celebratory fluff underscores the inferiority complex new media, despite its constant boasts of relevance and power, clings to when it comes to measuring itself against traditional media. As an example, consider how RedState labels itself “the leading blog for right of center online activists” along with “the most widely read right of center blog on Capitol Hill” and “the most cited right of center blog in the media”. Its own words. Now, what’s the average number of daily site visits at RedState? As mentioned above, a shade under 130,000. CNN’s Web site? By Quantcast’s estimate, this month the number of daily visits has fluctuated between 5.8 and 7.6.

Million.

A day.

Perhaps that inferiority complex is warranted.

It’s equally warranted when measured against Sarah Palin’s use of social media. She does so with far greater effectiveness than the self-appointed mavens of same who, as detailed, simultaneously spit on traditional media while craving its acceptance via inclusion. They’re still ticked at Palin for not only showing them up by not showing up at CPAC, but demonstrating through action a fundamental truth they cannot abide: she doesn’t need them. At all.

The people who follow Palin don’t know who or what RedState is. They watch or read CNN only when absolutely necessary, recognizing it for what it is, namely a partisan hack and hatchet job launcher. They go to their leader, and straight to their leader. Unfiltered.

The people who follow Palin, in addition to the shared ideological identity, flock to her in no small part because she is everything the bloggers aren’t. She is generous with praise and credit to others outside of a mutual admiration society. She’s honest. She’s open. She’s not stuck on herself. She doesn’t have an inflated sense of value. She isn’t pretending to be something she’s not. In short, she’s real. Not really trying to play the “look at me — SQUEE!” game by any means available.

That, and she’s actually accomplished something in life.

Okay, that inferiority complex is definitely warranted.