Over the past election cycle or so, including the run-up to this November, I continue to be amazed, and a little concerned, about the role blogs seem to play in electing the people who will represent us at all levels of government. I’ve been amazed at the number of blogs that have popped up just here in New Mexico. Some are well-written and offer useful information. Others are just plain old attack weapons, used by both parties.

I have to begin by drawing comparisons between two blogs in particular, Heath Haussamen and Joe Monahan. One is balanced, well-written and thoughtful. The other seems to be the newest version of the “National Enquirer,” or perhaps I should say the “New Mexico Enquirer.” Clearly they reflect two distinct approaches.

Haussamen, also an NMI contributor, seems to approach his from a fair and balanced journalistic perspective, taking information and then doing the leg work to find factual evidence to back up any claims he makes for or against anything or anyone. Joe Monahan (known as “Ho Joe” in some circles) on the other hand, pretty obviously takes whatever points he wants to make and attributes them to “alligators.” Then he prints his “story” as if it came from reporters or sources in the field. It’s actually just an editorial.

Clearly, the phony “sources” ploy is of great concern to a number of people, but that isn’t even the most worrisome thing about this. (I’ll discuss what is in a moment.) I believe there’s a place for blogs in the political arena, but I believe if you want to make a difference and be taken seriously you should manage your blog responsibly. Today we have too many blogs that operate on the Monahan-alligator “principle.” And quite a number that use what might be called the “modified alligator approach,” that is they actually do hear something, be it a rumor, an off-hand remark, accusation, or whatever. The blogger posts it and leaves it for others to prove him wrong. That ends up being, at best, a sort of gotcha journalism, though most of the time it isn’t even that. It just ends up being a lie, often an ugly one.

Now to the most disturbing aspect of all of this. For some reason there are local media outlets that give those “alligator bloggers” credibility. They need to realize that by enabling and empowering people like this they simultaneously drag themselves to their level. Places like the Albuquerque Journal or KKOB Radio need to realize that Monahan is paid to represent certain interests—he’s a paid propagandist. Using him as a “source” when he in turn uses “alligators,” i.e. no sources, is completely irresponsible. It gives credibility to the very kind of “journalism” both those organizations would probably reject. At least I hope they would. (Another blogger reported Monahan’s being on the payroll of Sunland Park Race Track and Casino and its owner Stan Fulton two years ago.)

I know there will be those who say I am angry or biased on this issue because of the coverage I received from a few bloggers during my failed re-election bid and I’m not even going to try and answer those allegations. The points I make in this column either stand or fall on the presentation and the logic I use. Either it rings true or it does not.

I would encourage you to read blogs. But question the source, and question their sources. Don’t take what they say as gospel. In your own analysis, think about how well they back up their facts. Dismiss all stories that come through “alligators.” Remember, alligators are large reptiles that can neither read, write, nor even speak. Stories come from human beings. Anyone can write his or her own analysis, propaganda, random thoughts, or biases of any kind. But in journalism these are usually offered by way of straightforward columns known as editorials, not in the form of “news.”

As for anonymous sources, if someone doesn’t want his name in a story, fine. But then you owe it to your readers to do the leg work, making sure what you’re printing is factual. It’s journalistic terrorism to maliciously and falsely attack someone, just to see if they’ll defend themselves. But many bloggers do just that so they can then attack the response. By the end of the day the story is no longer the false accusation they made up themselves, it’s what was said in response. This is not only ethically and morally wrong, it borders on criminal. It’s up to us the readers to hold them accountable and it’s also up to the mainstream media not to give these charlatans any more exposure or credibility than they deserve. Doing so undermines the newspaper and radio professionals themselves, as well as honest and legitimate bloggers.

I believe it’s wrong for me to accuse someone of getting arrested for DWI—or having been picked up while trying to solicit a couple of prostitutes—just because I want to see their reaction. On the other hand, phony bloggers need to realize that it is exactly that kind of alligator-sourced story that could come back to bite them.