The popular mythology that there exists 'Republican plants' on DU

[synesthesia]

You guys really believe this huh? I see it in so many threads.

I think people here place a little too much self importance regarding democraticunderground.

To 99% of America, this is considered a 'fringe' 'far left' forum. Not credible. I'm not saying it's not credible, but that's how the perception is. And perception wins/loses elections.

To think the RNC or John McCain staffers (or whomever), would actually waste resources to influence opinions on a leftist internet forum that is not representative of any kind of voting demographic whatsoever.......it's more than a little paranoid.

I mean, you may think they're against your interests ('evil'), but they're not stupid. And putting plants in here (who even if they were plants, are terrible at influencing opinion), would be a total waste of their money.

Let's put this meme to bed, no?

[Seeker30]

1. And you would know how?

[FrenchieCat]

2. I think that they are new people, just like I was a new person last primary....

and there may be a few disruptors and possibly campaign operatives- However, here at DU, everyone is supposed to receive the same treatment, unless it is easily documented that some posters are purposefully starting shit, but somehow the moderators let them survive. I've got about 4 or 5 of these on ignore now.

[synesthesia]

5. *

I do think it's somewhat possible DEMOCRATIC fringe candidates do try to influence the group think of popular leftist websites like daily kos and DU.

I doubt it would be through paying people to post random things. Most likely they'd try to buy off influential members or moderators or something along those lines. Those people's opinions carry pseudo-weight, especially at the beginning when people's minds are unformed and easily swayed.

It was a bit curious how Joe Biden went from a hated bigoted credit card industry champion (DU perception circa 2006) to a DU phenom for a brief moment there, over the course of a few weeks. But I think it was just people desperate for a new candidate to support. I wouldn't rule it out though.

I guess if you really courted DU you might get an extra 1% or so in Iowa (since so many of the activists are internet people). And 1% more for a Biden or other 2nd tier in Iowa would probably be worth a little bit of money. But I still doubt it.

But the Republicans would not waste time here; that'd be really stretching it.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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

[nono]

8. Low Post

Not all with a low no. of post are not plants. Please check my profile. I have voted DEM. starting with J.F.K. I am 70 plus years and typing is hard for me. Thanks Charlie.

[FrenchieCat]

12. I wasn't talking about you. I was referring to poster who posted OP and

apparently joined DU a couple of days ago, but can provide "insight" in OP on how things have been around here for a long time.

[Skidmore]

4. I thinks there are "cybersoldiers" with axes to grind for the Rs

who come here to spam sometimes. You can usually recognize who they are because of the way they use language and sometimes the places the cite for sources. People don't have to be affiliated with a campaign to do this. Basement dwelling swiftboater trolls don't need to be connected to anything but their own reality.

[synesthesia]

6. *

There's definitely mentally ill people from free republic or red state who will post here from time to time.

They're not plants though. They're just bored.

[Skidmore]

7. Perhaps they should return there or try to clean up the mess in their

own party. Might go far toward cleaning up the mess this nation is in.

[emanymton]

9. Welcome To DU. Name One Area The GOP Has Not Been Willing

.
to go to subvert and pervert. It is well within the RNC's resources to "... putting plants in here (who even if they were plants, are terrible at influencing opinion), would be a total waste of their money. ..."

Just because one is paranoid, it does not mean one is wrong to believe they are out to get one.

The threat is real. The RNC/GOP have the money and the power.

So to answer your questions, yes plants exist. If I am wrong there is no harm. When I am right, ...?
.

[synesthesia]

11. *

I have no doubt about them (them being whatever business faction we're discussing) having a nefarious nature to do all it takes.

It's just not cost effective to put plants on a fringe forum, and they're good with cutting costs. That's why its hard to believe.

[Perry Logan]

10. If they were Republicans, there would be more misspellings.

And that telltale winger speech impediment--"Democrat Party," etc.

[Zorra]

13. RW propaganda is extremely profitable. It helped mightily in the purchase of

of our government.

A little subtle propaganda anywhere contributes to the impact of propaganda as a whole.

No, we won't, as you would like to do for some odd reason, put this meme to bed.

[eShirl]

14. why wouldn't they use viral marketing techniques

what, are Republicans too principled for that?

[Bongo Prophet]

15. In your long history on DU - going on 3 days - you lecture us on this? Amazing moxie you have.

You don't even know how much you don't know.
Freepers have self-outed with gleeful laughter.
They brag about their stealthiness on conservative boards, and sometimes get caught.
There have been multiple organized college republican "raids" and other projects.
And so on.

How many are paid and to what degree, neither you or I know for sure.
But don't pretend to come here and be such a condescending pedagog.

"Let's put that meme to bed, shall we?"
Damn, just dripping.

[H2O Man]

16. clown

[denem]

17. Two words 1. Big (means large) 2. Darryl (a guy's name)

[creeksneakers2]

18. I don't believe anybody gets paid to post here

But there are lots of freepers on the net who will sabotage for free. There is proof elsewhere on the net of this. They brag about it under other names.

[synesthesia]

21. *

Oh i agree, and said so, that free republic guys post here.

I was talking about the notion that there is paid operatives of the GOP.

[GalleryGod]

24. Why oh, Why, Sir/madame, IS your PROFILE NON existent?

Newbies normally fill that out..not afraid to share their home town,their state, their hobbies?
What's your FEAR??????????
Never mind....

The Clock runs out on the Clintonista Legacy........:rofl:

[TexasObserver]

31. Exactly. There are many freeper assholes flying solo.

ANYONE who mentions Vince Foster or Juanita Brodderick in an attack on the Clintons is likely a freeper. Democrats, even those who think Bubba has gone way over the line, never trot that crap out.

That doesn't make the freeper a plant. It makes him a freeper, a nerdy guy sitting in his mom's basement, fantasizing he's taking on the liberal machine.

[bluestdogest]

19. Judging from some of the outrageous things I've seen posted here, if anything,

there could be GOP plants here posing as lunatic Democrats in an effort to make Dems look disgusting and distasteful.

[cgrindley]

20. All sorts of clowns believe that here... and you're right... it's not true

but there are people here who actually believe MIHOP. The Republican Plants meme is not as fucking stupid as some of the stuff you occasionally see.

[GalleryGod]

23. See my post..shall we ask Skinner for the Tombstoned names?

No...why don't you.
"D+"

[cgrindley]

29. Those were jerks and outright trolls not Republican Plants

a "plant" is a deliberately placed operative of some organization. A whackjob rightwinger who posts to fuck us over is not a plant.

[GalleryGod]

22. 'Scuse me, Rook ! In SEVEN years we've turned out at least 3 DOZEN GOP "plants"

LISTEN & LEARN ...and Turn in your blue book!


"F"


" You got some crazy, mutherfuckin' white people on that site, y'all should get outta your basements once in a while, Playa !" ~ D.L. Hughley 2/2/08 10:30 p.m. backstage.

[synesthesia]

25. interesting

if I'm wrong, I'll be interested to see I wasn't paranoid enough ;)

but were they just some random guys from the internets causing trouble, or were they actually asigned by GOP operatives from any kind of real level?

because the latter is what I was refering to

[GalleryGod]

27. Ask Skinner. You do know who Skinner is?

Ask Sniffa, Ask MaddyMacall, Ask AUTHOR, WILL PITT, Ask LynneSin, Ask GOPisEVIL, I'll think of about 500 more...we were ALL here for the serial unmaskings...it was during the General of 2004.


Bye for now....

[complain jane]

26. Far-right nuts admit they come here on their own message boards.

It's not exactly rocket science to think members of any political party would spend time on their opponent's message board.

I mean... I think you're the one taking this a little too seriously.

:eyes:

[Adelante]

28. Welcome to DU, synesthesia

Enjoy your stay :hi:

[TexasObserver]

30. Plants? Probably not. Imposters? Absolutely.

I think the problem is more likely to be people who think they're helping or hurting a particular candidate in the Democratic Party. They think they're helping Obama by pretending to be Hillary supporters, or vice versa. They're misguided people who think their efforts at subterfuge here matter.

I think there are undoubtedly some rightwingers who are probably active in the Republican party, and they simply try to sow as many seeds of dissent as possible. I doubt they are working for anyone or under anyone's direction. Again, they're people with too much time, too little actual understanding of politics, and in a battle that exists almost exclusively in their own heads.

Most of the people who are being remorseless assholes are just remorseless assholes, operating on their own, as they always do. Some of those likely love to pretend to be someone they think will hurt a particular person.

Someone up thread said there have been three dozen imposters outted in seven years. Out of 113,000 registrations? That's about one every few months. Not a big number in the grand scheme of things.

My point is that 99% of the people someone here calls a PLANT are not plants. They're jerks, not plants. A plant is a person who is being used by a camp, under the direction of the campaign.

[applegrove]

32. I've been on mixed boards where the GOP has role players: when someone

takes on a job that would garner them respect..say a soldier in Iraq. Then they try and shut up the dems on the boards and fill their heads with GOP memes...because of their "expertise". I have called out at least one GOPer like that.

There was a time when open Repukes would get on this board and try to lobby to change the rules: allow discussion from the GOP point of view on the DU. They were not hiding their affiliation. They were politely turned away and told that the DU was for DEMOCRATS and not open for discussion except from the Dem point of view.

Seeing as how there are GOP roleplayers out there and the more open ones have asked for the DU to give them access to the discussion on topics...it isn't hard to surmise that occasionally we get a freeper/GOP troll. It happens. Is a weakness of the World Wide Web that you cannot vet in person, you can only vet by what people say. So I think it is safe to say that at times the DU will fall victim to some role-player. And hopefully they get tombstoned quickly so we can get back to our all important Democratic discussion.

[ErnestoG]

33. I'm not so sure about this. DU has some real prominence, akin to DailyKos

and if you don't think people give a shit, ask yourself why some guy like O'Reilly would make it his personal crusade to go after DailyKos.

Politics on the internet have come of age, and that means with all the accompanying sleaze and power tricks you find in general politics.

[Jed Dilligan]

34. They're here, but not on a paid basis

Every campaign has staffers that monitor the blogosphere, and some of them login and post just to blow off steam. It's a time-waster at work just like flash video games, online shopping, day trading, etc.

[robbedvoter]

35. Once the nomination is done, a few you thought in your camp will pull off

their masks and have a good laugh at you. Others will quietly disappear. Seen this in 2004.