[Editor’s Note: Those of us that are going to SxSWi this year are congregating over at the SxSWi Group on SiliconANGLE. Feel free to drop in and let us know what you’re looking forward to in Austin this year. –mrh]

Sometimes people ask me why I’m so interested in politics.  No, scratch that. People like to ask me why I’m so interested in covering politics.  I’ve never been able to put my finger on a deep philosophical answer.  I guess all that I can say about it is that I love my country, and I am deeply concerned over what makes it tick on a day to day basis.

Usually, when I’m questioned about my pursuit, people find it odd because most find all politicians and the process itself to be shady, limited to the upper crust of society, and rife with lies and deceit.

That argument can certainly be made. DC can be pretty uppity.  I’ve spent time there.  I would know.

However, something happened recently which changed my own perspective on what I do, and made me realize how lucky I am.  What happened, you may ask?

I was denied press credentials to SXSW Interactive.  I won’t be going now.  Granted, this is just one of many factors which have surfaced to prevent me from going at this point, but my refusal borders on the ridiculous.  Granted, they have the right to refuse anybody.  However, it’s a wonder they accept anybody at all, because the application process is insane.

It’s one thing to want to know who you are and who you work for. That’s all well and good.  But it’s another thing to be expected to be a soothsayer and know exactly where you’re going to be at every given moment, where exactly you plan on shooting or recording, what exactly you plan on shooting or recording, and the approximate word count of any pieces you may or may not write.

Well, the hell if I know.  I do what Hopkins tells me to do.  How about that?  He has ideas, and we do our best to bring you quality stuff.  We fire up the equipment and unleash the beast.  It’s what we do, and we’re damn good at it.  Never mind all of that though.  Who knows what might happen to the sacred honor of the party-ridden train wreck that is SXSW Interactive if one undocumented Flip cam is on the loose.  –gasp-  Somebody might catch Scoble doing something naughty!  Oh, the humanity!

Incidentally, who wants to bet that’s part of the problem?  I bet they don’t like what I do here.  I leave no sacred cow un-slaughtered, after all.

Now, before I get accused if spewing sour grapes, let me provide some context to all of this, and it stems back to my earlier point about covering politics.  Here’s my point:

I’ve discovered that the political realm is far less arrogant than that of tech!

Just over a week ago, I attended CPAC 2010. The Conservative Political Action Conference, which is held annually in Washington DC. (It’s huge.  You may have heard of it, assuming that you occasionally watch actual news.)

Anyway, I was fully credentialed for this event.  Do you know what it took form me to get credentialed for the event?  A simple two or three line e-mail.  That’s it! I told them who I was, who I wrote for, and that was the end of it.  I had access in a matter of days.  I didn’t have to rub a crystal ball, or anything of the sort. It was “I want to cover this, let me in”, and it was done.  In a few days time, I found myself sitting between CBS and C-SPAN.

For those of you who may not understand what I’m talking about here, let me clarify this for you.  CPAC (and events like it) is/are not one of these tea-party tent revival things that we’ve seen on TV over the last few months.  It’s serious business.  I’ve met congressmen and governors. I’ve talked to presidential candidates and their families.  I’ve met former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich twice, and his office knows me by name. I have contacts at influential DC think-tanks across the spectrum.  I’ve enjoyed live presentations by numerous leading thinkers in the arena of politics, been in the presence of media giants Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, not to mention within spitball firing distance of Vice President Dick Cheney.  Not only that, any of those people on that list are or would be happy to talk to me should I get an opportunity to engage them.  They and their colleagues are the real movers and shakers of the world, and they do not look down on me.

Unfortunately though, it doesn’t look like the same can be said for SXSW, and I don’t doubt that other tech conferences have the same attitude.  “We don’t care if you’ve talked with people who worked with Ronald Reagan!  You are riff raff, and you might dent Pete Cashmore’s blazer or knock the shine of Loic LeMeur’s head!  Your papers and accompanying DNA sample are not in order!  No jourmalizzzms for you, infidel!”

In closing, the point I’m trying to make is this:  It’s not that I am a big deal.  Not at all.  Far from it, in fact.  The point is that the tech industry is far too full of itself.  If I don’t go to SXSW, that’s fine. I was merely asked to go.  Just don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining, Austin.  I’m employed out of DC, so I know how it’s really done, and frankly, you’re just not that good at it.

To steal a line from Mosspuppet:  I’m Art Lindsey.  Shut up.