Kranzed

Mt. Blogmore is discussing what it means to be "Kranzed" after complaints from former/current Daschle/Hildebrand staffer Chad Schuldt:

By Bill Harlan

The God’s of Mount Blogmore are pathetic cowards, according to the liberal blog Clean Cut Kid. Chad Shuldt, a former Tom Daschle staffer who posts on Clean Cut Kid, claims right-wing “bullies” have made us so afraid of being “Kranzed”* we uncritically post conservative Steve Sibson’s rants – most recently his assertions about the financing of the liberal outfit Focus South Dakota.

For those who don’t know it, here’s the dictionary version of the verb “to kranz”:

*kranz, v.t. ; kranzed, p.t.; kranzing, pr. part. [from Sioux Falls Argus-Leader reporter and columnist Dave Kranz, who has been criticized by conservatives for alleged bias relating to his association/friendship with Tom Daschle and other known Democrats and for his political activities in the 1960s.] to put pressure on a reporter by alleging a liberal bias. See also “reverse-kranz,” (to pressure reporters by alleging conservative bias) and “fakey-kranz,” (to pressure reporters by alleging bias towards “balance.”)

If Chad had checked with us, however, he’d know that Denise did check the links offered by “Sibby.” The numbers were correct.

If Chad had called me he’d also know that I’d like nothing better than to be “kranzed,” as long as someone buys me dinner first. In fact, I’m ripe for a good old-fashioned kranzing. Jody Severson of Focus South Dakota is a long-time friend of mine, since before my reporting days. So is Bill Fleming, a frequent contributor to Mount Blogmore, and Bill has worked with Jody on political campaigns, including at least one Daschle campaign. Even worse, Daschle once saved my life.* And yet, pathetic coward that I am, I have posted Sibby’s comments hammering Jody, Bill and Tom. Thus I am vulnerable to kranzing from all directions. (The technical term is “omnikranzable.”)

One of Chad’s criticisms is that Mount Blogmore didn’t point out that conservative Republicans also get money from out-of-state contributors, work as paid political consultants and offer comments to online discussions. I’d guess most Blogmorites already have figured that out.

Particularly interesting to me was Chad’s assertion that Mount Blogmore has been fakey-kranzed. (See the definition above.) Chad writes: “Now, to be sure, ‘balance’ at a media organization might — I say might — be a worthy goal. ” You think?

* A long story I often exaggerate for dramatic effect.