My mother taught me that if I can’t say anything nice about somebody, don’t say anything. So when Steve Rubel endorsed John Kerry for president on Micropersuasion, I just kept my blog shut. Frank Barnako’s mom may have missed that lesson, though, because today the CBS Marketwatch managing editor did say something: “Seve Rubel endorsed a presidential candidate yesterday. His blog usually concentrates on public relations. The idea of a blogger making an endorsement, as if he carried any weight, was presumptuous. Now venture capitalist Fred Wilson has followed the leader.  Visit the site.”

Barnako went first, so now I don’t feel like I have to keep quiet any more. I have a pretty strong position myself on the election, but my blog is about communications and, usually, the impact of technology on the business. Having written some books that sold pretty well on the topic, I get asked about the Net, the Web and intranets a lot. I’m considered an authority. That doesn’t mean anybody gives a damn if I’m a Bushie or a Kerryite, and what I think sure as hell isn’t going to influence anybody’s vote. I doubt Steve’s “endorsement” will cause anyone to say, “Damn! I was going to vote for Bush, but Steve Rubel’s endorsing Kerry, so…I was wrong! Thank God Steve set me straight! If it weren’t for Steve, my misguided vote might have spelled catastrophe for the nation and the world!”

I thought Steve’s blog was about PR. Now I’m not sure what it’s about, other than being about one entry too long.