Eric Odom

Right Online, a gathering of internet activists and free-market minded voters, turned out to be quite a successful event. Put on by AFP, and sponsored by organizations such as my own employer, the Sam Adams Alliance, the event was able to attract a wide range of speakers, panelists, and trainers.

Right Online is now the second major conference to provide training for internet activists. The Conservative Leadership Conference kicked off last year’s event with the slogan “Conservatives & The New Media”. This year the Conservative Leadership Conference is hosting an all day Samsphere event put on by the Sam Adams Alliance, and gives the west coast its second injection of full scale online training.

While Daily KOS is providing the far left with one big conference each year, the Conservative Leadership Conference and Right Online are both moving in to create an environment for free-market minded activists to network, share ideas, and learn from the best in the business. And they’re doing it VERY well.

Indeed, Right Online was a huge success. I had the honor of speaking on a panel titled “New Media & The Conservative Movement”. Soren Dayton was the panel moderator, and the room was pretty packed. We had a plethora of questions that allowed for solid discussion revolving around the idea that the right is behind, but making serious and much needed changes to correct it and move forward in a manner that creates success.

The numbers I’m hearing fluctuates, but the San Francisco Chronicle said there were about 500 present for AFP and Right Online. This isn’t the 5,000 that Netroots attracts, but it’s a pretty good number for a first time center-right event. I would certainly consider it a success.

Speakers at Right Online included Erick Erickson, Micheal Steele, Michelle Malkin (not a big Malkin fan, and I thought her speech was lacking, but she added some “star power” to the lineup), Michael Williams, Ken Emanuelson, Matt Sheffield, Grover Norquist, Bob Barr, John Fund, and many more.

Overall I would have to give this event four stars out of five. There were a few things I found lacking, but for a first time event of such nature for AFP, this was a two thumbs up.

Other Bloggers talking about Right Online include:
-Right Wing Sparkle
-Patriot Writer
-The American Mind
-Voice in the Wilderness
-Urban Grounds
-Lone Star Times
-Blue Dot Blues
-Acton Blog
-Travis Monitor
-North Shore Exponent

I have some audio files as well as video footage that I’ll post later on, so be sure to watch for the next few posts.

-Eric Odom