Dan Riehl: Is Palin Media Strategy Reagan 2.0?

The Riehl Man points out that Sarah Palin will take criticism from some pundits who will say that she is foolishly waging a war with the media. In fact, we have already heard this argument being expressed. Dan says that the CW is that you don't pick fights with people who buy ink by the barrel. But he asks if the conventional wisdom still applies, then answers his own question:

Reagan didn't fight with the media. The usual descriptor for what he did is, he went over the media's head directly to the American people. Is Sarah Palin really doing anything different, except for having Facebook, blogs and a great many other New Media resources today to which Reagan didn't have access? Just imagine how even more effective his communication strategy would have been if he had?

Because of media advances made in the last several years, Sarah Palin doesn't have to go over the media's head. She can go right through them. It appears to me that's precisely what she intends to do. Don't be surprised if it works, even as the media and some old-line politicos point how what a bad idea it is. If those folks had truly good ideas, most of the country wouldn't be so upset with them right now. But that's just another thing old media and large portions of the political class seem to be missing.

We have noticed that people who buy ink by the barrel are laying off employees, losing subscribers, and having a tougher time selling ads to fill up their pages. We agree with the Riehl World View on this one. Sarah Palin is going through the media like Patton's Third Army went through France.

Counterpoint: Don Surber disagrees.

- JP