I just read Chris’ post on the recent relevation on techPresident that Hillary Clinton staffers - be they volunteers or paid - were just caught astroturfing a blog. I agree wholeheatedly with his comments, but…
This is politics and stuff like this will be the tip of the iceberg. Some likely low level Clintonites let their enthusiasm get to them. In reading the article I felt that the infraction was relatively benign. About four staffers consecutively registered and commented on the liberal blog Blue Hampshire via a computer whose IP address was registered to the Clinton campaign. They used nicknames for identification and personal emails for their contact info. Their comments were in support of this post.
In response, a spokesperson from the Clinton campaign said, “this was not an orchestrated effort but the product of over-eager staffers and volunteers.” Which was followed by “this was not an orchestrated effort but the product of over-eager staffers and volunteers, done without her awareness, and that it will not be repeated.”
My guess is that the spokesperson is exactly right with exception of the last part. It will be repeated and repeated and repeated. In two ways.
One is that it’s my guess that most over-eager staffers and volunteers have very little understanding or concern about the standards and ethics that have been set. They’re clueless (and sometimes in politics the clueless can also be ruthless). My guess is that these people meant no harm. They are basically minor league baseball players that get stuck taking steroids. But that means that there’s a bigger problem. Because when you get caught, you’re in trouble. Not being transparent means deceit.
This leads to what I expect the second way I believe this type of transgression will be repeated. I’d bet money that the campaigns are looking at ways to denigrate and destroy the opposition via social networks and blogging. There will be the creation of fake blogs that spread false rumors (such as Barack Obama is a Muslim) and other nefarious blurbs out there. Some will work. Others won’t. Some will get away with it. Others won’t. At least not right away. But eventually the lack of transparency will lead to the ultimate truth. Just like it did with steroids in baseball. Just ask Roger Clemens.
It’s coming to a campaign near you.
1 Comment » Posted on December 14th, 2007 by Jonathan Trenn
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