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The Washington Post today profiles the role of new media in electoral politics. Calling blogs and other online media “unruly,” the Post notes that current scandals engulfing Sen. George Allen and former Rep. Mark Foley, “percolated” online before hitting the mainstream press.

I don’t want to accuse the Washington Post of being late to the party, but the observation seems painfully obvious. Since Matt Drudge broke “Monica-gate”, Internet media has consistently beaten the MSM to the punch on just about every important story (political or otherwise) and in doing so has set the tone for all subsequent coverage.

As for being “unruly”, I think I can speak for the entire blogosphere when I say, “Guilty as charged.”

The blogosphere is the ultimate manifestation of the First Amendment right to free speech. While some bemoan the lack of “best practices” or “prevailing journalistic standards” online, this unregulated, pure, unadulterated freedom of expression is precisely what gives the new media its power to incubate news.

According to the Post, aides to Bill Clinton say that the former President believes that both Al Gore and John Kerry lost their elections because they “could not effectively respond to a modern media culture.” Truer words have never been written and may this be a lesson for candidates, businesses, or anyone courting public opinion.