Do politicians ever retaliate against online activists?

[Cannikin]

I've tread into deeper waters than I'm used to. I've pissed off a state senator. I wouldn't be too worried if it weren't for him being Koch-backed, and seems to have ambitions for the future. I'm disabled and at home while I recover from PTSD, and I've gotten politically active to stay busy. Am I being a little too paranoid?

[dballance]

1. I'd Guess It Depends On How Big a Threat They Think You Are.

If you just pissed off the senator through some e-mails and a couple of blogs probably not much to worry about. If you've got blogs or a site that is getting lots of attention from others and perhaps the media then maybe they might try to do something to make you look bad.

How did you find out you'd pissed off the senator?

[Cannikin]

4. He's drawn attention to himself anyway..

And I may be grossly overestimating my part in it, but there is a strong online backlash growing against Senator Rapert and I have worked hard to get it going.

By interacting with him on Twitter and Facebook, I pointed out some very uncomfortable truths to his tea party followers, along with posting bills they were trying to slip through that the news was (for some reason) neglecting to report. After banning me and a few others, he took to attacking us on Twitter along with several of his followers. It seemed very coordinated. The shady news director for both our local fox and nbc station followed us on Twitter for a few days before dropping us again.

It just really got me wondering how far the Arkansas Tea Party would go to squash opposition.

[dballance]

7. A Lot of Those Legislators Do Have Substantial Online Media Teams

Their sole job is to put "a good face" on the legislator. Through FaceBook, Twitter, etc.

It wouldn't surprise me in the least that those teams are also collecting the information about people like you who could be a driving force in pushing the truth out there. If they're being funded by the Koch Bros. that's usually a "sky is the limit" thing. However, isn't AK one of those reliably gerrymandered states where even if the senator got "caught in bed with a dead male corpse" he'd still get re-elected?

You may not really be worth his time and effort in the long run.

Keep up the good work though. If they're attacking you then you're doing something right and scary for them.

[Cannikin]

10. It is true that most of the locals..

are the Fox News "republicans can do no wrong, democrats can do no right" types.

If any of you feel like joining the fight, don't hesitate. We're in need of more level-headed and intelligent people.

[HiPointDem]

11. If you're worried about it and aren't already affiliated with others with the

same interest in getting rid of him, affiliate now.

An isolated activist is easy to pick off. Harder when he has friends.

[patrice]

2. There are so many ways that could happen. They know people who know people who know people.

Why not?

[patrice]

3. And YES you can lose your job for non-job related things you say on FB. At Will employment is

legalized discrimination.

[Apophis]

5. This is why you don't "friend" anyone you work with.

And keep your account private.

[patrice]

9. Yes and I made conscious "outreach" decisions and then it was a friend of someone at work I was

Commenting in a Shared thread, on the use of The Bible in retail business, in my strong but polite reference to trading on the name of the Lord (I said something to the effect, "What if Jesus had needed to be paid for his service to the truth?&quot , which then, due to organizational "leadership" which operates almost exclusively on gossip . . . 'nuf said, but it was a risk that I consciously CHOSE to take. I just did not understand the degree of bigotry against those who do not worship at the altar of ChurchCoC in BrownKochistan.

Would I do things differently now? Apparently not, because my FB account remains just as open as before and I do get a chance to say things to people I would never otherwise cross paths with. Additionally, there are other things that have happened because I am un-employed that could not have happened if I had been employed and I wouldn't change those things.

I'm just mentioning this, because not everyone is like me. They don't have the personal resilience or resources to "get over it". If this experience could damage me so much, what must it do to others who have way fewer coping skills? This sort of thing should not happen and yet no one does anything about it. Is it any wonder that millions of people get a destructive attitude toward "our" economic system?

I was a very good employee; I contributed vast amounts of real value to our enterprise; my direct boss loved me for all that I made it possible for him to do. This shows how At Will employment is BAD for the economic system for which so much has been sacrificed and, yet, no one will stand up to At Will employment, because you'll get fired for telling the truth about how things are NOT working so well out there. It's hypocritical and employees know it, so they steal time, call in sick, don't go the extra mile, don't really care whether they "have it right" . . . . It's so very sad! - AND - expensive, but the bonuses, and unlimited expense accounts, and free health insurance, and fat salaries keep getting paid. People get stars hung on their butts and the way up is smoothed whether the right things have happened or not - AND - in some fields that's actually BECAUSE those right things have not happened.

[backscatter712]

6. I've done worse - I nailed Cory Gardner at a Tea Party meeting, and exposed him as a liar.

He was rattling off the talking point that week - that the Democrats didn't have any budget plans, so I asked him about the Progressive Caucus's People's Budget - he stammered and said he voted against it.

Yeah, I pissed off a Congressman.

Totally worth it!

[Nye Bevan]

8. Imagine the reaction if a politician was found to be retaliating against someone in this manner.

I don't think you will have any problems.