Tech Mentat

Some say there is “No Such Thing as Bad Press” and as bloggers, web marketers, and consumers we know that the best way to deal with unsavory news stories, blog postings or negative reviews is to either aggressively attack the problem with honesty or spin the hell out of it. But can you spin a sex scandal? Is there a way to take the shocking extra-marital affair of a well-known (and popular) mayor of a major metropolitan city and gain positive public approval? Lastly, is there a way to gain positive traffic from an unfavorable scandal?

These are the questions that started running through my mind early today when one of my good friends called me to tell me that news “might” be breaking about an affair involving Gavin Newsom and an acquaintance of ours. At 10pm tonight the story of Gavin Newsom’s affair was the headline news and newspapers started spreading the story faster than you could say “Newsom Affair.” Bloggers also quickly took to the story, and why not? It’s one part sex, one part mayor, and a whole lot of good looking in between.

Part of the question/equation is for the mayor’s office to drive traffic and allows users to post there thoughts and let the mayor himself field questions. At the same time this would allow Newsom to present his feelings/regret directly to the public. Personal and direct contact from the mayor… that’s the ticket!

Is there a way to drive traffic off an unfavorable mayoral sex scandal while allowing the accused party to gain positive public favor?

I think it’s a tough question and quite honestly I am not quick enough as a web marketer to think of a valid idea. So what are your ideas? What would you do if you were in charge of spinning this scandal for Gavin Newsom? How would you drive traffic (or could you) and spin public opinion?