While protesters were unable to deliver the 50,000 people promised to unite in Denver, bloggers have come out in full force. Two hundred plus clicked away Monday, during the opening of “The Big Tent.” The temporary structure is set up outside the Alliance Center, the swanky LoDo digs of the city’s growing liberal organizations.
HannahFTS Staff Photo
Alliance for Sustainable Colorado and ProgressNow.org - liberal activist groups - partnered with Daily Kos, a left-leaning political blog, to host the event. The Big Tent organizers maintain that the event is non-partisan and “the place to be for new media journalists, bloggers, reporters, and non-profit leaders covering the Democratic National Convention in Denver this summer.” Bloggers can rub shoulders with actor-activist Daryl Hannah, while listening to panelists discuss "being green" and "the ethnic vote."
Participants can also take advantage of the Google Retreat, which offers free 10-minute massages, smoothies and cell phone charging stations. Or they can head upstairs to the Huffington Post Oasis for a complimentary facial.
After getting buttered up, bloggers are sent to the new media lounge for a free Chipotle lunch and coffee that never stops flowing.
Could it be that this is the freshly pampered face of objective journalism? We've got to wonder: Where is Chantell Taylor and her friends in campaign finance fairness, Colorado Ethics Watch, to question how this posh arrangement may impact what bloggers write.
Maybe we're just jealous. Just a day into the convention craziness, a day at the spa is sounding really nice.