Comments on: Why Barack Obama & John McCain Should Be Coming to BlogHer ’08

By: Lisa Stone

Lisa Stone — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:03:00 +0000

Hi Joanne, thanks for your post. I'm happy to answer the question: Actually, this year we made the decision to focus very heavily on getting the candidates to address the BlogHer community's Voter Manifesto questions, rather than on coming to BlogHer '08.

Two reasons played into our decision: First, the conference is really about, by and for women who blog -- a huge discussion of what we are doing with this technology across dozens, perhaps hundreds of topics. Second, our goal for inviting the candidates to speak with BlogHer has always been so they could answer your policy questions -- and we can reach many more women via distributing those answers on BlogHer.com than we can via our our conferences, which are limited in size and reach. That's why we were so happy when Sen. Obama agreed to a ten-minute exclusive on-camera interview with Erin Kotecki Vest this spring, in which he answered questions created by the BlogHer community. And I hasten to add that Sen. McCain has agreed to answer these questions from BlogHers as well, and we are in the process of scheduling this interview.

We did indeed invite the campaigns to send surrogates to BlogHer '08, and I'm happy to report that Sen. McCain is sending Liz Mair, Communications Director for the Republican National Committee, and Sen. Obama is sending Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.) I'm going to moderate a panel where these folks debate which candidate is better for women, one for which I am sure you and your community have some zingers -- bring 'em on! In addition to taking questions from the bloggers in the room at the conference, I'm happy to credit the site where I get the two or three questions with which I kick the conversation off.

I hope this helps. I have high hopes that we might be able to get Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain to post on our site as well, but that's all I'm really comfortable sharing now. :)

And landismom, we'll be on the east and south-east tour in October! More at our site.

Thanks,
Lisa

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder
Surfette

By: landismom

landismom — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 02:25:00 +0000

I’m not really sure why you’re assuming that they were invited to BlogHer, but that’s a side issue. Here’s my real question–why can’t they have BlogHer on the East Coast? I’m busy running a campaign here, I can’t fly to SF this year! Why can’t you ever come to my, blogger ladies? Sob!

By: anniegirl1138

anniegirl1138 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:12:00 +0000

I wish I could be there but it’s not to be. Second year now that life gets in the way but I guess “real” life is more important than online (or my imaginary friends as some of my family and friends seem to think of you all).

Thanks for the list of the 100. Very interesting.

By: Kel-Bell

Kel-Bell — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:38:00 +0000

Alas, how I wanted to get to both BlogHer and NetRoots this year...but twas not to be.

ENJOY it for all of us who are wishing we could be there too.

Our numbers are Legion.

By: PunditMom

PunditMom — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:10:00 +0000

Amy & Daisy, I don’t know if they invited them, but I have to assume that they did!

Mom101, thanks for the kind words!

By: Daisy

Daisy — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:29:00 +0000

Fascinating idea! I wonder if anyone in the BlogHer organizing committee notified the candidates of the conference? I’d be more likely to attend BlogHer if I knew it was getting this kind of high profile visitor.

By: Mom101

Mom101 — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:15:00 +0000

And, Barack and John, if you don’t know Pundit Mom – well, this is a real honor to get an invite from her. I’d take her up on it.

By: Amy in Ohio

Amy in Ohio — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:49:00 +0000

I wish you were an adviser.

Just out of curiosity, did BlogHer contact them with an invitation?