Meet John Brown

I mentioned Taylor Marsh in a previous post that came to my attention through Balloon Juice. I was disturbed by many of the nasty, pathetic comments slamming Senator Barack Obama that were left on her site by rabid Sen. Hillary Clinton supporters. I had learned of Marsh through other blogs that regularly referred to her as a progressive talk radio host and blogger. I think she also pops up every now and then on CNN, MSNBC or FOX. But you never really "know" anything about some of the people you "meet" on the Internet.
This is a fascinating piece by Kansas blogger John Brown on the background of the mysterious Taylor Marsh, her experience, and credibility. It is a long post (plus there is a follow up post with more details), but it provides an amazing example of how someone can inject themselves into the public consciousness through self-promotion. Remember, Rush Limbaugh got his start by buying time on stations for his radio show.
The Money Quote:

"The Taylor Marsh story has two parts. First, it cautions us to remember that having a slick blog and a knack for PR doesn't make someone smart, qualified, or credible. Second, it teaches us that anyone can command an audience for his or her opinions. The Taylor Marsh story is about fame for the foolish, attention for the mediocre, and how a kid from Missouri can somehow grow up to be an oft-cited resource among those with an interest in serious matters--even if she might not have any business sharing the stage with serious people."

Another interesting thing about Taylor Marsh's site ... you rarely if ever find negative comments. I think she scrubs her site of any dissent. That makes it one big circle jerk of pro-Clinton supporters.