This is also commentary. And thankfully, still unregulated opinion.

Also, there's nothing secretive or sneaky about paraphrasing a press release. That's what most of journalism is based on.

I am essentially putting it in a big quote bubble and saying “this is what he said”.

If there was a press release pertaining to something I was writing about, I would;
A. Paraphrase it
B. Post or link to it and properly explain it.

Press releases are, for lack of less inflammatory word, propaganda. They contain highly loaded words that should be filtered out when delivering news or opinion. By leaving in Harper's rhetoric and letting it stand, you are effectively just promoting his exact position which would make one wonder why you have a blog at all. Why not just post Harper's opinions? If one in a position such as your's does not think for oneself, then it's a sad state of affairs in the national dialog.

It is one thing to put your opinion in, which may or may not correspond to that of Mr. Harper's, but it's quite another to put Harper's in himself. We, the reader, trust your judgment because you have nothing to gain from using flowery rhetoric to deceive us. This is true and necessary of the political structure, but not in journalism.

Perhaps I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, but I find it is a rather serious issue.

It's rare that I'll post a press release and when I do, it is because it sets up the topic (ie. the PM's position — which is to contrast with the Liberal position).

I posted some PMO text the other day (clearly labeled) the other day as an update to a blog post because it itself was part of the story's evolution.

If Ignatieff put out a release reacting to something I was talking about it I would post it because it is part of the evolution of a story.

I should note that Susan Delacourt posted the same release that I do in this post because she found it interesting and because it helps our readers understand the PM's direction as Canada's approach to foreign policy changes from that of previous administrations.

“… I don't feel the need to wait around the internet until I find someone of a different party and just disagree with every single world [sic] they say.”
• Sorry, but I hope you do not expect to go unchallenged when you make a provocative statement on a blog that does not share your POV.
Surely you must get some comments on your blog that disagree with you … unless, of course, you do not allow comments on yours.

“ I know there are partisan blogs; I write one. However, I certainly don't reproduce party rhetoric, I actually think for myself now and again.”
• I’m surprised you write one. You seem to be so thin-skinned that you cannot even accept a divergent POV, making such a big deal out of a press release.
• You say you “don’t reproduce party rhetoric.”
Why should I accept that on your say-so? I’d rather see for myself. Like you, I prefer to think for myself, and not just “now and again.”
However, the fact you use expressions like “a Conservative Party circlejerk” is already a sure indication that, far from thinking for yourself, you just repeat the same tired put-downs.

So long. It's been a slice.

2. I'm not non-partisan, however, I don't feel the need to wait around the internet until I find someone of a different party and just disagree with every single world they say.

3. I know there are partisan blogs; I write one. However, I certainly don't reproduce party rhetoric, I actually think for myself now and again. Having a right wing blog is fine, having a Conservative Party circlejerk is just stupid.