I have to be honest and say that while I had seen the “BlogBash” name and logo on several different web sites in the past, I really had no idea who or what Blog Bash was, I was about to find out. On January 24, 2012 I submitted the registration to American Conservative Union’s CPAC for Blogger/Media credentials so I could cover the Conservative Political Action Conference from a different perspective. On January 25, 2012 I received confirmation from the ACU informing me that I had been confirmed for credentials.
Thank you for registering to cover CPAC 2012. We have received your application and are pleased to confirm your CPAC 2012 Blogger Credentials.
While preparing for the CPAC event and organizing a list of who and what we wanted to cover I received another email on February 1st, 2012. This email came from “Blog Bash at CPAC 2012″ from the Director at Blog Bash dot Org. It was an invitation to attend a party on the opening day of CPAC 2012 hosted by BlogBash.org.
Dear Blogger,
It’s finally that time of year again — CPAC 2012 is just around the corner and that means that Blog Bash is as well!
If you haven’t attended before, Blog Bash is the biggest exclusive party at CPAC, and the only party by bloggers, for bloggers. This year’s Blog Bash, taking place on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 6:30 PM, is going to be at Microsoft’s state-of-the-art Innovation and Policy Center, which trust us, will be the best venue Blog Bash has seen. We’re going to have tons of other great things for attendees as well — goodie bags full of great items, prizes and giveaways, free food and drink, and many hugely popular guests, including Presidential candidates. You can find out all about it at our official website, BlogBash.org.
In researching BlogBash I had come to their home page and had found that a group of successful young people had put together an organization to recognize, honor, and promote Bloggers, one could argue that Melissa Clouthier; Ali Akbar; Aaron Marks; Devon Wills; Lyndsey Fifield; Abigail (Abby) Alger; Bill Murphy; and Jade Morey may very well have laid the ground work for what could become the Blog worlds “Peoples Choice Awards,” or even the Blogger version of Sundance. In addition to the Blog Bash Party, The National Bloggers Club and BlogBash.org recognized Bloggers who have made a difference.
I decided to RSVP BlogBash and was notified on February 2, 2012 @ 9:41 PM I was in.
Dear Friend,
We’re excited to let you know — you’re officially invited to Blog Bash at CPAC! We’re excited to welcome you to this invite-only event on Thursday, February 9, 2012 from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM EST. As a reminder, Blog Bash will take place at the Microsoft Innovation and Policy Center.
After arriving in DC on February 6, 2012 to cover the CPAC conference and while getting prepared I had noticed a twitter post which originated at the ever liberal left DC blog known as FishbowlDC. The writer of the story which the twitter post linked to was from none other than Glenn Becks online site The Blaze. The title of the article Unpaid Bloggers Get Elite Status at CPAC Party would be better suited at describing those who are part of DailyKos, Huff-n-Puff Post or the DemocraticUndergroud since most of the bloggers who covered CPAC and who attended BlogBash were anything but “young kids with rich daddies.”
BlogBash was a great event and everyone I know who attended were in DC to cover CPAC not as “spoiled rich kids,” but as bloggers whom for the most part paid their own travel, hotel or other lodging arrangements and the cost associated with getting to and from CPAC each day. The Blog Bash party was fantastic. Most of us who attended the Blog Bash party used the shuttle buses which the organizers had arranged to pick us up at the Marriott Wardman Park. Once we reached the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center at 901 K Street we all soon realized that this party was going to be something to remember. As we got off the elevator the Microsoft Center was alive with color, music, well appointed buffet and open bar. While the location was a little smaller than maybe it should have been considering the number of attendees, that only made it more intimate and easier to network and converse with one another.
The Sponsor’s of Blog Bash 2012 were many and diverse.
Madison Rising is a band that every patriotic American should support. It should be noted that former Reason and current The Slate & MSNBC writer Dave Weigel and DCist’s Benjamin Freed (both of whom have a history of publishing completely untrue claims) found Madison Rising’s song Titles to be somewhat funny. What would any of us expect from a couple of far left propagandist like Weigel & Freed?
InJustice The Film previewed the trailer at BlogBash at CPAC 2012 before the more than 400 right-of-center bloggers at the Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center and was the largest sponsor of the event. If you have not seen the film InJustice it is truly a must see film before you ever look to hire an Attorney.
In 2012, we’re taking InJustice on tour across America — and we’ll soon have a new Web site that allows you to engage with us and purchase the movie.
Winner of the 2011 Peer Award for Best Documentary, InJustice is the first-ever, feature-length film about the American legal system. This documentary shows how the class action lawsuit, born from the Civil Rights Act of 1964, was skillfully managed by a small group of trial attorneys who manipulated legal rules, procedures and even their own clients – to become an international enterprise that rivals the scope and profits of Fortune 500 corporations.
While I have no idea who won the iPad2 which was to be awarded by email, I can tell you that Blog Bash organizers gave away door prizes of which I was one of the lucky winners. I was extremely proud to see that one of the Blog Bash sponsors was NAACPC an organization I became aware of at their birth in February 2010 when I became one of the first paying members at the FL 24′s Candidate “Eat & Greet” forum Feb 25, 2010 in Orlando. NAACPC is along with The Black Sphere hosting the 2012 National Conservative Film Festival in Orlando, Florida this August.
From the copies of the books Dispatches from Bitter America, What Would Lincoln Say?, to the DVD of InJustice and the Music CD’s of Madison Rising to the great conversation and exchange of ideas the group of young people who put Blog Bash together deserve to be applauded. The mere fact that left leaning writers got their panties in a bunch when they were denied access to those such as Freed who took advantage of the free food and alcohol while slithering around like a snake looking for anyone and anything he could use to bash Blog Bash, its organizers and those who were invited to attend.
I wish Blog Bash only greater success and may everyone who had the privilege to attend (not because as the left claimed “you were a kid with a rich daddy,” but because you really do selflessly blog and report from the front lines while trying to support yourself and your family) show your support for BlogBash.org and its Co-Hosts and Sponsors.
Cheers to
Melissa Clouthier
Ali Akbar
Aaron Marks
Devon Wills
Lyndsey Fifield
Abigail (Abby) Alger
Bill Murphy
Jade Morey
May Blog Bash grow into the Right-of-Center Bloggers version of Sundance and/or SAG’s. There is a enormous amount of talent which was brought together by BlogBash.org.
Andrew Breitbart made a statement at Blog Bash that I personally believe every blogger should take to heart: “If you want to make a difference, hold the media accountable and continue to drive them crazy.” We can and will win by telling the truth and not being afraid to call out the media on its lies.
