Michael Bennet: Half a loaf is better than none

Twitter isn't just for letting people know about dead bodies without linking to any additional information, as the Denver Police Department did this morning in regard to a slaying in an AT&T parking lot at 2535 E. 40th Avenue. It's also a place for politicos to promote themselves while trying...

By Michael Roberts

September 28, 2009

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Twitter isn't just for letting people know about dead bodies without linking to any additional information, as the Denver Police Department did this morning in regard to a slaying in an AT&T parking lot at 2535 E. 40th Avenue. It's also a place for politicos to promote themselves while trying to come across like real people. Witness this odd weekend tweet from Senator Michael Bennet's Twitter feed: "I'm proud of my daughter Halina for scoring the game-tying goal in her soccer game today."

What the hell? Do Mike and Halina only communicate via handheld devices? If not, and Bennet actually shared his pride with her in person, then the decision to send this info out to his 547 followers is an attempt to prove that he's not the dry policy wonk he sometimes seems. Problem is, his language still comes across as weirdly formal, as if he was writing it for a congressional proclamation, not an attagirl. Even when Bennet tries to loosen up, he can come across as uptight.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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