The reason most will tell you to call and then bet pot is because most people see a bet below the pot size to display weakness. Your best bet if you play this hand in mid positionis to raise to buy position as AOK said. if you arent willing to do this then you need to not play this type of hand from anywhere but CO or button.

If I saw a half pot bet from someone who has been betting bigger...I would run over you with a large raise with any reasonable hand.

Weakness...Learn to smell it