The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

‘Down in Alabama, You Can Run,
But You Sure Can’t Hide’

Posted on | February 2, 2010 | 6 Comments

As mentioned yesterday, I’m now soliciting contributions to the Shoe Leather Fund to help fund an expedition to Alabama later this week. Despite promising Mrs. Other McCain I wouldn’t make any more road trips before CPAC, there’s some Tea Party action happening down there in the Republican primaries, and I need to check it out. Early this morning I got an e-mail from a reader:

Since many of the requests to hit the tip jar are related to journey and related expenses for a story but often referenced in a sarcastic or glib tone, I am going to ask a frank question. Is your operating budget for travel and operations so thin as to really depend on event specific donations to decide whether or not you can do an identified assignment? . . .
How much of the jest or sarcasm is meant to take off the edge from asking for people’s money and how much of it is just a way to keep the idea in the readers mind so they think about it and do it? Or other?

To which I replied:

The short answer: Yes.
Basically, the Shoe Leather Fund allows the readers to function as the “assignment desk” for my road trips. A trip is suggested, people hit the tip jar, and that funds the travel . . . In a competitive news environment, the Shoe Leather Fund allows me to do on-the-scene reporting at a deep discount — traveling to Massachusetts for six days without cost to the publisher beyond my freelance fee (which isn’t a lot).
We started this back last summer, when I was just doing day trips to DC (70 miles from my home) to do coverage of the IG-Gate story. So far, it’s been pretty successful, although my wife’s skeptical of whether the total receipts exceed my actual expenses. But I’m committed to proving that it can be done, and the readers seem to enjoy it.
The sarcasm and glib tone are, of course, meant to take the edge off the solicitations. My total income from all sources (blog ads, freelancing, consulting, editing, tip-jar, etc.) is still only a fraction of what I was making when I left the Washington Times two years ago. I’ve occasionally reminded readers that I spent out my 401K to subsidize my first year of freelancing, but I consider that an investment, the reward of which is the freedom to do the kind of work I wouldn’t be able to do at a desk job.
That’s kind of cold comfort when the car payment’s overdue and the checkbook’s overdrawn, but I have to take responsibility for my choices. The tip-jar solicitations aren’t charity, they’re fee-for-service, and I try to keep the customers satisfied.
Thanks for your inquiry and, if the bottom line is that you’re asking me if you should hit the tip jar . . . well, again the short answer is yes.
— RSM

No whining, no shame, just the straight-up facts, folks. It’s 800 miles from here to Montgomery, Ala., and a 1,600-mile round trip at 20 cents a mile is $320. And did I mention that fireworks are legal in Alabama? Just sayin’ . . .

 The title of the post, of course, comes from “Mississippi Kid,” by the esteemed poet, Ronnie Van Zant:

When the kid hits Alabama, people
Don’t you try to dog him ’round . . .
‘Cause if you people cause me trouble,
Lord, I’ve got to put you in the ground.

Hey, I might finally get to fulfill my long-ago promise to sing a karaoke duet with Heidi Beirich of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

How about “Summer Nights” from Grease, Heidi? We’ll get it on video. Talk about your instant YouTube classics . . .

Category: Alabama, Election, Mrs. Other McCain, Republicans, Shoe Leather Fund, Tea Party, Uncategorized

Comments

6 Responses to “‘Down in Alabama, You Can Run,
But You Sure Can’t Hide’”

  1. Mr.K
    February 2nd, 2010 @ 7:21 pm

    Sweet home Alabama…..I am considering a small donation Mr.McCain, but I remain hesitant….because even though your trips are full of awesomeness…it makes the laziest of bloggers look bad, and I must lookout for the laziest of bloggers…being one.

  2. Mr.K
    February 2nd, 2010 @ 2:21 pm

    Sweet home Alabama…..I am considering a small donation Mr.McCain, but I remain hesitant….because even though your trips are full of awesomeness…it makes the laziest of bloggers look bad, and I must lookout for the laziest of bloggers…being one.

  3. Alabama: ‘Things Going On’ : The Other McCain
    February 3rd, 2010 @ 10:49 am

    […] on | February 3, 2010 | No CommentsI’m planning to leave late tonight or early Thursday for a shoe-leather reporting trip to Alabama. That rattling sound you hear is either the transmission of the 2004 KIA Optima or me […]

  4. Troy King and the Scandal That Dare Not Speak Its Name: Way Down (Low) in Dixie : The Other McCain
    February 5th, 2010 @ 2:10 pm

    […] in Alabama, including the campaigns of Les Philip and Tim James.However, as soon as I started blogging about the idea of a trip to Alabama, an anonymous tipster asked me if I was going to check out the […]

  5. rocker
    March 2nd, 2010 @ 9:53 pm

    love you alabama

  6. rocker
    March 2nd, 2010 @ 4:53 pm

    love you alabama