WP, pg1: Blog Comments Become Fodder For Attack Ads: New Way to Go Negative

[DeepModem Mom]

Blog Comments Become Fodder For Attack Ads
New Way to Go Negative Seen in Va. House Race
By Tim Craig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 22, 2007; A01

RICHMOND, Sept. 21 -- A Republican state legislator from Fairfax County has launched an attack ad on cable TV against his Democratic opponent that features unidentified, unverified quotes from a blog.

The ad by Del. Timothy D. Hugo points to a new form of negative campaigning in which information for an attack ad is sourced to comments posted on the Internet instead of more authoritative sources such as news reports or public records. Hugo's ad highlights critical comments about his Democratic opponent, Rex Simmons, that someone with the screen name "Pitin" posted on the Democratic blog Raising Kaine.

Ads that quote from blogs, on which it is often difficult to identify the author, represent a benchmark in increasingly negative political campaigns, several political analysts said.

"This is one of the places where the old way of doing politics and the new way is coming into conflict," said David Weinberger, a research fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. "We have developed a blogosphere that is full of lively debate . . . but at the same time we have political marketers who will use anything they can to advance their own cause."

In Hugo's ad, a narrator recounts what "others are saying" about Simmons. As quotes flash across the screen, the narrator says Simmons is "running the most cowardly campaign I have ever seen" and "has been lying to voters the entire campaign." "We just can't trust Rex Simmons," the ad concludes....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/21/AR2007092102334_pf.html

[msongs]

1. another way republicans have outsmarted democrats ... again and again nt

[SaveElmer]

2. Not this time...

There is a growing backlash against Hugo here on these ads...

He is my rep, a nice guy in person but a right wing jerk of the first order...

Polls are very tight with Rex Simmons coming out on top when issues positions are explained...

He needs more money to get the word out!!!

[tanyev]

3. The internet makes "ratfucking" so much easier.

[Bitwit1234]

4. It's not outsmarting - think about it

It is the fact that republicans have dirty filthy sewer type minds. All they can think about is dregging up lies and rumors to try to swift boat their opponents. Democrats don't have that type of mentality. If they did the republicans would cut it out. They couldn't stand to swift boated themselves.

[tridim]

5. Everyone should keep an eye out for fake Liberal blogs

Set up specifically for this reason.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. That sounds like a likely possibility. And first thing we know, they'll be censured by the Senate.nt