Tag: Robert Johnson

In political discourse, Dr. Robert J. Johnson argues, it is rarely reality that is proffered, but carefully tailored perceptions of reality. ?One of the most incredibly frustrating things about running against John is that he has this perception of supporting things that he opposes, and opposing things that he supports,? said Dr. Johnson, a thoracic surgeon who has twice campaigned unsuccessfully against Republican congressman John M. McHugh. ?He is able to use the language in such a vague manner as to create a perception for the groups he?s addressing.? Dr. Johnson, Sackets Harbor, has founded McHugh Watch, a blog that he says will contrast the perception of the congressman with his voting record. ?This isn?t something antagonistic. It?s to inform the people of how he?s representing us,? said Dr. Johnson. ?What I?m trying to get people to do is separate facts from opinion. Draw what conclusions you want. But if you know the facts, you usually come to the right decisions.? Brynn A. Barnett, Mr. McHugh?s spokeswoman, said the congressman will not monitor the site. ?Frankly, he couldn?t care less,? she said. Ms. Barnett added that the congressman?s office ?is not confident that this, or any other political blog, represents the facts accurately.? She said the congressman will continue to communicate about his voting record through letters, press releases, and interviews with the media. Although Dr. Johnson concedes that the Web site should keep his name in the minds of voters here, the surgeon is unsure about a third campaign. ?I might not be the right person,? he said. ?I have a passion and a cause and I want to do some good. But I?m not sure people understand that.? The erstwhile candidate also acknowledged problems raising enough funds to get his message across the district, which encompasses parts of 11 counties. In the last campaign cycle, Dr. Johnson reported $161,770 in total receipts, according to the Federal Elections Commission. Mr. McHugh, R-Pierrepont Manor, reported receipts of $561,841 for the same time period. If he elects to run again, Dr. Johnson said, he won?t solicit contributions through the new site. But the surgeon said he is recruiting contributors for the blog. Some, he said, may elect to remain anonymous as they critique Mr. McHugh. Dr. Johnson said ?it just didn?t feel right? obscuring his identity as the site?s founder and primary contributor. Instead, he established a biographical page that details his aspirations for the site and his failed campaigns against the congressman. Dr. Johnson?s posts bear the pseudonym Theophilus, a Biblical figure to whom Luke addressed his gospel. (It?s also the name of his dog.) The surgeon said it takes about three to four hours of his recreational time to research a topic and build a post. ?If it?s ignored, I suppose I would consider it fruitless,? he said. ?But it?s not being ignored.? Dr. Johnson said his site amassed about 5,000 hits on Jan. 30, the day it was announced on DangerDemocrat, a blog scribed by former county Democratic Party Chairman Ezra S. ?Ted? Ford. Some hits, he said, were even logged from computers using the ?house.gov? portal. While the site?s growing prominence may entice more unseemly visitors, Dr. Johnson said he will moderate comments to keep discussions from derailing into personal vitriol. ?I don?t want a lot of raving,? he said. ?I read some of the Web boards and the posts are obscene. I think we need to watch our representatives, but we don?t need to denigrate our representatives.? Dr. Johnson said he will congratulate Mr. McHugh on the site when he believes it?s warranted. ?If the blog feels he?s representing the majority of people?s interests, we?ll give him kudos for it,? he said.