Rep Mike Doogan thought it was a good idea to use his e-mail newsletter to constituents to "out" fellow blogger AKM Mudflats, sending her full name to all and sundry.
What he did was wrong on so many levels, I won't try to list them, but in the present political climate in Alaska, his actions can be described as criminal.
Sarah Palin has declared open-season on progressive bloggers in her press release about Celtic Diva's ethics complaint. It resulted in a barrage of intimidating hate e-mails being sent to Linda because she chose to exercise her rights as a citizen.
AKM had her reasons to remain anonymous and what Mike Doogan did placed her in a precarious position. I cannot imagine how he or anybody else will benefit from his actions in a legitimate way.
Bloggers have every right to their opinions, whether their identities are known or not. The internet is a very democratic medium. There are many people from the left and the right who use screen names to write about the politicians they like and the ones they dislike.
Their real names are not important and the freedom to make their opinions known should not hinge on publishing their real identities.
Mike Doogan's stupid move will not change AKM's opinions, but it may affect her ability to express them.
It is a shame that some politicians in Alaska have no regard for people's civil liberties.
AKM Mudflats
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