Disinfo Rehab

Disclaimer: I do some work for No on H.
It seems no good deed goes unpunished. Sunday, the Yes on H ran the strangest attack rally yet, calling anyone who opposes Prop. H a “liar.” And yet, in promoting the rally, which was both pro-Prop. H and against Prop. 8, the ban on same-sex marriages, it seems the pro-H people engaged in a bit of lying of their own.
First, they put out press releases claiming that the Alice B. Toklas Democratic club was participating in the rally. Not true, according to sources at the Toklas Democratic Club, who declined to particpate formally as a group.
But second, they seemed to omit the fact that PG&E, one of the sponsors of the No on H campaign has given a significant donation to the No on 8 campaign, as have many large corporations (Apple and Google being some of the most notable).
Now here’s where the tortured logic begins. It seems that giving to No on 8 is not “good enough” for the angry partisans supporting Prop. H, which frankly I don’t understand. The No on 8 campaign needed help. Many large companies decided to stand up and give significant donations to fight Prop. 8. To me, that sounds like a good thing.
Now, obviously, when it comes to any issue, be it Prop. H, what search engine to use, or what computer to buy, there is going to be a diversity of opinion within the LGBT community. That’s fine. What’s not fine is seeing Prop. H engage tell lies about it, and condemn a corporation that is now the target of a boycott campaign for standing up against Prop. 8 and make the suggestion that PG&E is for Prop. 8.
That’s the worst kind of lie, especialy when we see the hateful actions of folks on the other side.

I’ve never made a secret of what I do for a living – anyone can find my LinkedIn profile or my resume online, and so on. I’ve also created several blogs to voice my opinions for fun, including the N Judah Chronicles and BSG fanblog Adama for President. And, as a result, I’m often asked to contribute writing and analysis for private compaines, often because of the work I put on display here.
So it was funny to get an email from Steve Jones, the City Editor of the Bay Guardian, who wrote this rambling, nonsensical note, apparently upset that I don’t worship at the altar of Public Power, and was asked to come work for those opposed to the $4 billion power grab by Supervisors Daly, et al:

So you troll the blogs calling people out for not being progressive enough, and now you’re PG&E’s bitch. I hope they’ve paid handsomely for your soul, you hypocritical scumbag.

(I penned a short, polite response to Mr. Jones, sans profanity and homophobia, but I won’t post it until he sends another insult via Facebook. Folks shouldn’t have to read private correspondence online.)
UPDATE: You can see a transcript of the silliness here. You can see how unhinged (and how much of a liar) he is. Despite the fact that I always said I was working on the campaign once I got hired, and despite the fact I complied with all the rules, and went overboard to make sure that people knew what I was doing, he’s just too angry, stubborn and stupid to admit he’s printed lies. Oh, and I wonder if his bosses ever just picked up the phone and screamed insults at their subjects like he did.
I love the part about “corporate sponsorships in Seattle and the East Coast.” Um, dumbass, I didn’t have a blog in Seattle, I never published anything back then, and I worked in fundraising for legislative candidates. East Coast? Yeah, the corporations sure were hard at work electing Mark Green in 2001 or Felix Arroyo in 2003 in Boston. I guess if all you have is anger, stupidity, and a blind belief in outdated Marxist bullshit, you don’t need to do any work. Or admit you’re a foil for the Yes On H campaign.

Um, whatever. The first part of his little note (gotta love that junior college journalism degree writing there) makes no sense, but the last part just sounds childish. I mean really, my “soul?” I didn’t realize the method of transmitting power to customers involved the spiritual realm, but according to the Great and Wise Mr. Jones, it does.
Now remember, folks, this is someone who claims to be a “journalist” but in fact is a partisan as any “flak” for a cause or candidate. Pot calling kettle black, for sure.
Thin skinned and a poor journalist, I’ve had some exchanges with Mr. Jones about the medicority the Bay Guardian has slid into. And each exchange reinforces what I’ve believed all along – Mr. Jones just doesn’t have the temprament to be a reporter and just isn’t a very nice guy. Some of his former colleagues have confirmed that notion.

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