Using Time For Political Agenda's

The Washington Times article suggesting Bill White is a candidate for SECNAV is getting some attention in the Navy blogosphere. Look, Bill White is a really interesting guy, his support for the Navy, the Intrepid Museum, not to mention his support for the troops demonstrates his extraordinary character and quality. He is an entrepreneur with a lot of experience in business and in particular is an excellent fundraiser, a very difficult occupation.

What I find interesting about the article isn't that someone would consider him a candidate for SECNAV, his resume appears to be well rounded and he could be a very good pick. What I find interesting though is that he has allowed himself to become part of a political agenda. I don't want to give the wrong impression, but when you are talking about serious professionals like Bill White for serious jobs like Secretary of the Navy, I admit to being a bit surprised that he he allows the media to make him an object of a political agenda for the sole purpose of attacking the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. Regardless of what one thinks about the policy, it seems to me that if Bill White was a serious candidate, he would stress all the real substance he has on his resume and not the particulars of his lifestyle, because to emphasize his sexual orientation essentially disqualifies him as a serious professional candidate and frames him as a political candidate. Bill White is well qualified, he doesn't need a political gimmick to apply for the job.

That is why this Washington Times article isn't a serious article, it is a political agenda driven article intended to shape a political agenda, not a Navy appointment. So what should we think about this?

Well, first lets note the SECNAV has already been picked, it is Juan Garcia, the pick has already been made and a lot of people learned as far back as Monday. What baffles me is that I found out rather quickly, easily might be the better word, and more than a few people wanted to talk about it on Monday. Here we are on Friday and nobody in the press can find enough sources to discuss it? I don't know what to make of that.

Some possibilities might include that I jumped the gun and a memo got sent when that post ran in Tuesdays CLIPs. Another possibility is that the Washington media refuses to reveal selections by the Obama transition team out of order or without official announcements, which is understandable. Another possibility is that people in the press do know, but haven't had a chance to write clearly political agenda driven nonsense like Stephen Dinan did with this article, who for a Washington Times reporter writing about the Navy SECNAV position looks to me like a remarkably uninformed reporter. As an observer, I almost feel sorry for the guy, because being an uninformed reporter in Washington DC selling out to write political agenda news items during tough economic times while his company is in the midst of free fall probably isn't good.

Could I be wrong? I'm confident enough to single out a reporter from the cheap seats, so you tell me. I do it for good reason though, I honestly wonder if Stephen Dinan had permission to shape Bill White as an object of a political agenda, because I can't imagine Bill was happy to be framed as a tool for a political agenda. I could be wrong, but Bill always came off to me as too professional for that.

I don't know much about much, but I do know a little about what is going on in the Navy. I've been following closely an interesting geographic anomaly in my blog visit statistics that I'd love to know more details about, but sadly have reached the extent of what technology can tell me.

Every weekday so far in the month of December, I have had at least 2000 visits from within 50 miles of Washington DC based on source IP information. I think that is an interesting statistic, because first it tells me I live in the wrong town and have a shot at perhaps getting a job in DC where people might respect my work here. Second, I think it is interesting that there are at least 2000 people in the Washington DC area who are interested in Navy discussions on the internet every work day.

I personally think that second part is very interesting.