By Gayle Weber, FHSU
DENVER -- The traditionally right-wing Fox News is allowing Democrats to speak their minds this week on its Web site.

Kansas alternate delegate Eli Tate from Fairway in eastern Kansas is one of those who has been asked to blog for www.foxnews.com about his experiences at the Democratic National Convention.

Tate and friend Ryan Dolan, who resides in Chicago but grew up with Tate in the Kansas City area, are giving Fox News a piece of their mind about Kansas, its perceptions, its sustainability and its presence in the future of Democratic politics.

"Living outside of Kansas people will hear about the school board (evolution debate), and they''ll think Kansas is this backwards place. They''ll make their assumptions," Dolan said.

"I think Kansas is full of bright people that just want their problems solved. They''re interested in anybody, politician or otherwise who listens to them and solves their problems."

Tate agreed to writing the blog only after ensuring he would not be paid for it and he could write whatever he wanted.

However, Tate''s friends have been disappointed to learn they could not write comments on his blog, which Tate admits could be a good idea.

"I just thought it was a good opportunity to get a good, level perspective from Fox News," he said. "This convention isn''t about Republican and Democrat nearly as much as it has been in the past. This is an opportunity to get that message across."

Tate and Dolan drove across southern Kansas to get to the DNC and gained a perspective on the residents.

"They''re not that conservative, they''re very realistic and down to earth about making responsible decisions," Tate said. "I''m not sure Fox News is interested in that ... but that''s one of the things we''re writing about."

However, the bloggers aren''t giving any attention to the protestors who have inundated the downtown area this week.

"I think we saw the Fred Phelps people, and I just don''t want to give them any press at all," Dolan said. They also avoided writing about a protest supporting former presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"We''ve talked to Clinton delegates from our state and others, and there doesn''t seem to be that animosity there," Dolan said. "I think the press make a bigger deal out of it than it already is, and I don''t think we should add any fuel to the fire we don''t believe in."