Who is Hillary44?

[illinoisprogressive]

If you run a Whois search on Hillaryis44.com, you discover that the site was registered by DomainsByProxy.com, which proudly boasts that:

We protect your identity and only reveal it in special situations.

So whoever is running the site apparently doesn't want their identity known. Why?

Interestingly, one of the "special situations" in which DomainsByProxy.com will reveal the true site owner's identity is where the owner uses the site to "defame, embarrass, harm, abuse, threaten, or harass third parties." Scanning HillaryIS44.com, I'd say Noonan is right that the blogger is obsessed Obama. Indeed, the very purpose of the site would seem to be to "abuse" Obama, "embarrass" Obama, and "harm" Obama's presidential chances.

Louis Brandeis famously observed that sunlight is the best disinfectant and electric light the best policeman. Disclosure and transparency ought to be the rule in politics. If Hillary's campaign is behind this website, they shouldn't be able to hide behind a proxy registrant.

Update: To be sure, the website states: "We are not affiliated with the Hillary For President Exploratory Committee, or any official Hillary Clinton organization in any way." Maybe so. Maybe not. Unless there is disclosure, however, we can't know. The anonymity of the site raises a legitimate inference that there is some connection to the campaign

http://www.professorbainbridge.com/2007/06/whois-hillaryis.html

[draft_mario_cuomo]

1. Will BO supporters decry the use of a right-wing source against HRC?

I doubt it since they had a chance to do so earlier today. Once again, there is one standard for Obama and one for everyone else. Anything goes against HRC! :crazy:

[beachmom]

5. Is it from the Right? I think we'll have to wait and see which

media outlets it turns up on. You're right, that so far it is only being talked about on Right Wing sources, which is a bit suspicious.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

7. I believe Peggy Noonan is the one who began pushing this in the MSM nt

[karynnj]

14. The OP may have learned of what Hillary44.com is

from the posted Noonan article, but what the op posts is his/her independent view of what the site does. Have you looked at the site? Do you agree that the site appears dedicated to smearing Obama?

Did you notice that all the Hillary pages are "under construction"? This may be a site created by Hillary fans or Rightwingers, hitting Obama and making it seem like the hits are from Hillary people. Could be Edwards people. The point that the OP makes is that they are hiding behind a screen not identifying who they are. The content makes it a noxious site.

[madrchsod]

2. interesting is`t it....

i checked this yesterday and found it very interesting.the "article" about obama-ben harper tickets on craigslist is really strange.i tried the craigslist email.my email went to a spam e mail company and came back undelivered...

maybe our "friend" can help us out

oh yes i`m registered at that site..

[madrchsod]

3. i forgot

you can send money but it does`t say what it`s really going for. it`s tax deductable...ya like i`m giving anyone my address!

[ddeclue]

18. This sounds like an FEC violation to me n/t

[jcrew2001]

4. Yeah, its hillary's personal drudge site

but it will be effective in spewing the garbage at her rivals.

[CK_John]

6. It also sounds like classic KRove operation. n/t

[blm]

19. It's actually just like Schumer's heyjohn site that attacked Kerry and praised Hillary.

And distorted Kerry's enormous contributions to the 2006 candidates.

[beachmom]

53. Schumer? I think HeyJohn.org was definitely created by the Dem side, BUT

I never heard Schumer's name before. Do you have any, um, insights as to how you think it's Schumer?

[blm]

56. It was tracked to a person in his campaign office.

And Schumer's offices are Hillary's offices.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TeamJordan23]

9. It's quite ironic that the only candidate this website attacks regularly is Obama.

Fair and Balanced I guess.

[blm]

23. Set up in exact same way Schumer's office attacked Kerry before 2006 election

that site was called heyjohn and misrepresented Kerry's contributions to Dem candidates when it turned out that Kerry gave far MORE than any other lawmaker and spent MORE time raising money for them than any other.

That site also singled out Hillary for praise.

You all think this is just another coincidence?

[ShortnFiery]

10. I refuse to "get chummy" with first names, it's *HRC* to me in all references. n/t

[jcrew2001]

16. how about just Rodham?

haha

[illinoisprogressive]

11. Jordan, do you wonder why people are so jealous of him?

[jcrew2001]

12. Its probably carville - or someone well connected

to the campaign and an experienced operative. the site owner would have to have lots of inside info and oppo dirt.

[blm]

21. Schumer's office did this exact same thing to Kerry and they got TONS of press

from the Politicos - Halperin and Allen. The same guys who trash every Dem while they have Bill praising them on their 'accurate' book about 2000 and 2004.

[AZBlue]

13. So candidates are now responsible for things their supporters do?

Then none are elecatable based soley upon the actions of their supporters just here on DU. It's a disgusting mess.

Plus...if they are responsible for them, what's Obama going to do about the 527 created for him considering that he's spoken so much against 527s?

See? It just doesn't make sense to make them accountable for everything their supporters do.

[jcrew2001]

15. If a website is going very negative in Hillary's name

then it should be up to Hillary or that candidate to condone that behavior or speak against it.

Even Edwards faced criticism with 2 of his bloggers, who eventually quit the campaign website. So a candidate should be wary of "supporters" hurting the campaign with negative publicity.

Certainly, some of the behavior on DU can be a turn-off on candidates as well.

But specifically with Hillaryis44.com seems like a well-connected/experienced operative who is doing Hillary's dirty work. This "supporter" needs to be named and stop hiding, because if it is someone like carville, then we find out how connected this website owner truly is.

[Ethelk2044]

17. Everyone needs to push the media to investigate this

Hopefully they will find out who is behind the website.

[rinsd]

24. a couple of things....

"Even Edwards faced criticism with 2 of his bloggers, who eventually quit the campaign website."

Being specifically hired is a bit different than just a supporter wouldn't you say?

A better example would have been the Hillary 1984 that one of Obama;s team got caught doing on his own.

"But specifically with Hillaryis44.com seems like a well-connected/experienced operative who is doing Hillary's dirty work. This "supporter" needs to be named and stop hiding, because if it is someone like carville, then we find out how connected this website owner truly is."

Did I miss something? Is Hillaryis44.com a heavily read site or something regularly cited by the MSM? The Hillary 1984 vid became big news but other than Peggy Noonan and Prof. Bainbridge who has mentioned this website?

I'm all for disclosure but really how big a fish is this that it is imperative?

Or is this gotcha for Obama getting burned on the Punjab memo?

Cause that is what it smells like.

[jcrew2001]

26. The Hillary 1984 was done by an independent Obama supporter

and he came out to the public and Obama distanced himself from the ad. The guy was never on the payroll or never even talked to Obama. But he was a professional graphic designer working for political firms; and he came out publicly, while Hillaryis44 is still hiding out there.

There are other posters on DU with the 44 logo - i don't remember who - are they the site owners???

Just like Reporters and the Media take orders from the Drudge website - Hillaryis44 is the "must-see" for oppo research and dirt on Obama and Edwards. It is Hillary's personal Drudge site to steer the media away from attacking her and attacking her opponents.

[rinsd]

28. Hillaryis44 is the go to site for oppo research?

Strange I've never even heard of it before. But now I know where to get all my dirt I guess ;-)

"and he came out to the public and Obama distanced himself from the ad. The guy was never on the payroll or never even talked to Obama. But he was a professional graphic designer working for political firms"

It was a little different than that. He was working for a firm doing work for Obama.

Here's their statement.

http://www.bluestatedigital.com/2007/03/on_the_1984_video.html

Again, the 1984 vid made a big splash asnd was covered by MSM. Has Hillaryis44 received the same treatment?

[jcrew2001]

31. so you're saying that if it gets more popular

then the site owner should disclose his/her identity? we'll just have to wait then.

At least the Obama/1984 guy disclosed his identity.

Who's the poster here with the Hillary44 logo?

[rinsd]

52. If it becomes a reference site for the media or something regularly cited...I would favor disclosure

Until then who cares. Its Peggy Noonan trying to stir up a shit storm between Democrats though if I was an Obama supporter I wouldn't have been too happy about the site.

"Who's the poster here with the Hillary44 logo?"

I have no idea.

[jcrew2001]

58. the poster here is tellurian

as noted below.

[paulk]

29. it could just as easily be a right winger posing as a Hillary

supporter.

They do that sort of thing, you know.

[jcrew2001]

33. so by trashing her opponents, the RW is actually making Hillary

look bad - sounds like a plan!

More likely its an operative in a field office. The site conveniently lists all the field offices.

[beachmom]

54. Nope. It's not from the Right. This is not their style. This is from our side.

Not the official Clinton campaign, though.

Not sure who.

Read this -- it's just like heyjohn.org

http://www.hillaryis44.org/?p=123

[wyldwolf]

20. someone who loves to rattle your cage?

[ronnykmarshall]

55. Like that takes much with her.

[rinsd]

22. Here's that website's response

http://www.hillaryis44.org/?p=123

[Adelante]

25. There will be lots of these sites

Anti this one or that one. There's no reason to think a candidate is behind any of them.

[jcrew2001]

27. It certainly depends on how good the site is

many of these are ex-consultants who are very good at their jobs.

[polichick]

30. Could be anyone, and not necessarily an "operative"

Somewhere I read that there are hundreds of pro-Gore sites ~ he probably doesn't even know about most of them.

Many political sites have board members listed somewhere ~ you can click on them and figure out pretty easily who's behind them.

[jcrew2001]

34. Some of these consultants are professionals

Obamas/1984 video was done by a political professional. It is not a kid in his mom's basement - its someone who has worked for the democratic party.

[jcrew2001]

32. The user Tellurian has the Hillaryis44 logo

We'll have to see if he/she knows anything about the website

[Ethelk2044]

35. DomainsByProxy.com

http://www.professorbainbridge.com/2007/06/whois-hillaryis.html

Interestingly, one of the "special situations" in which DomainsByProxy.com will reveal the true site owner's identity is where the owner uses the site to "defame, embarrass, harm, abuse, threaten, or harass third parties." Scanning HillaryIS44.com, I'd say Noonan is right that the blogger is obsessed Obama. Indeed, the very purpose of the site would seem to be to "abuse" Obama, "embarrass" Obama, and "harm" Obama's presidential chances.

Louis Brandeis famously observed that sunlight is the best disinfectant and electric light the best policeman. Disclosure and transparency ought to be the rule in politics. If Hillary's campaign is behind this website, they shouldn't be able to hide behind a proxy registrant.

Update: To be sure, the website states: "We are not affiliated with the Hillary For President Exploratory Committee, or any official Hillary Clinton organization in any way." Maybe so. Maybe not. Unless there is disclosure, however, we can't know. The anonymity of the site raises a legitimate inference that there is some connection to the campaign.


Therefore the Obama campaign should press them to find out who is behind the site since the site breaks their rule.

[jcrew2001]

37. I like how the website lists all of Hillary's field offices

just in case a supporter was interested, yet they aren't affiliated with any of those field offices whatsover.

[Tellurian]

36. The user Tellurian...

The obvious is never obvious to the spinners!

I Like Pink!

[jcrew2001]

38. Aha, I knew you were behind the website

congrats

[Tellurian]

40. No, it's isn't me. It's a wonderful resource though..

and everyone is welcome to visit, register and post if you like.

There is good information on Obama and Rezko. It isn't as simple as some supporters make it out to be. The house purchase and land deal are an associative issue pointing to their relationship. Theres issues of broken Campaign finance laws beginning to surface. The Rezko investigation is being handled by Fitzgerald, the Libby prosecutor. Rezko has already been indicted. If you watch the video on the H44 site, he looks just like a Capone mobster...chilling stuff!

[Bucky]

39. I like black and red, but I don't wear swastikas.

If it's a smear site (and I don't know because it sounds like a waste of my time to visit it) either anti-Clinton or a even some sneaky Macchiavellian stealth anti-Obama site, do you really want to associate yourself with it?

It's your call, of course. You seem cool to me. But just think about if you want that affiliation. If you just like pink the color, there's... other... images you could employ.

[Tellurian]

41. If H44 was a smear site, I wouldn't be bothered..

The information on the H44 site is legitimate and verifiable. Obama supporters may not like it, but I want the same standards applied to other candidates as has been applied to my candidate, across the board.

Also, if you what to know, "whats UP" with Hillary, you'll find the information there. If not, you're invited to ask, and you will get a response.

[Ethelk2044]

42. It is nothing more than a smear site and they need to find out

who is behind the site. The media needs to out the cowards.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

43. It provides valuable information on Obama/Rezko

It has to be the go-to source on this issue since the CMSM is dropping the ball on this.

[madrchsod]

44. ? chicago tribune has been running this story

for months now...this is really old news here in illinois and the midwest.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

57. Yes, but it is new for the rest of the country and to the netroots nt

[TeamJordan23]

45. Hillaryis44 is nothing but an attack/smear Obama website. You would think Rush created it.

The only candidate the website attacks regularly is Obama. It is basically a right-wing type of website. I would not be surprised if it is tied to the Clinton Machine.

[TeamJordan23]

46. Link - HillaryIs44.org: Should HRC disown this attack site?

http://www.mydd.com/story/2007/6/24/163113/005

[Tellurian]

47. Thanks- for getting the dirt on Obama spread all over the web..

apparently, you haven't read everything thats written and documented about Obama on that site.

It's nothing to brag about, not with the blockbuster reference to a cliffhanger come February.

[TeamJordan23]

49. So are you saying that a February surprise is coming out by the Clinton camp against Obama?

Wouldn't surprise me one bit. U guys sure love dirty politics - just like Karl Rove and Co.

[MGKrebs]

50. If Fitzgerald is part of the Clinton camp, then she IS inevitable.

[Tellurian]

51. The Clintons hardly have control of a Court Trial..

Are you the smartest one between all your friends?

[rucky]

48. Can I just say that all this netroots campaigning has lost its lustre...

since the Dean days.