The real 'Gang of 500'

This week I had the pleasure of confirming my 500th friend on Facebook, which I use almost entirely to disseminate news from the Capital Press and posts from this blog. It started as a way to publicize local stories for people who aren't in agriculture and wouldn't otherwise be exposed to Capital Press. As we've placed more and more emphasis on breaking news online, it's also become a way to let people in ag know what's new and relevant on our website.

Anyway, adding my 500th friend got me to thinking of Time magazine's Mark Halperin's so-called "Gang of 500," which Wikipedia describes as "political insiders and journalists who influence the daily media narrative in US politics." Now maybe I'm being harsh, but could anything more epitomize the arrogance and out-of-touch nature of the Beltway media than a self-proclaimed who's-who list? And judging from statements like this and comments like these, I'll bet Halperin's exclusive club doesn't include Rush Limbaugh, or Matt Drudge, or Bill O'Reilly, or Glenn Beck -- all of whom contribute to the national political conversation in significant ways. They're definitely more influential to the "media narrative" than some unnamed lobbyist. Heck, the list probably doesn't include Capital Press DC correspondent Jerry Hagstrom, who works in the same Beltway as Halperin and talks to many of the same people.

You know, when it comes to knowing what's going on out in the country and knowing how to grow a crop, meet a payroll or help a neighbor, I think I'd put my Gang of 500 up against Halperin's any day of the week. I have journalists and newspaper professionals but also businesspeople, farmers, church pastors, veterans' advocates, teachers, real estate agents and local officials. And a good many of them are much better versed on the impacts of decisions in Washington than the people in Washington.

At any rate, thanks to all my friends for reading and commenting. And for those of you who've accessed this blog from CapitalPress.com, drop me a line on Facebook.