Politico - "McCain incentivizing supporters to comment on blogs" - RW Astroturfing Of Liberal Sites

[TomCADem]

I recall this going on during the 2008 election where conservative activists posing as liberals would spam comments on liberal internet sites. Is this an effective tactic? If not, why does the right wing do it? If so, should liberals emulate such tactics?

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0508/McCain_incentivizing_supporters_to_comment_on_blogs.html

McCain incentivizing supporters to comment on blogs

John McCain's campaign is using their campaign website to encourage supporters to post supportive comments on political blogs, including the most well-known liberal site in the blogosphere. And to make things easier, they're including talking points with which sympathizers can use to get out the McCain message.

"Select from the numerous web, blog and news sites listed here, go there, and make your opinions supporting John McCain known," instructs the page.

McCain supporters are asked to send the details of their comment to the campaign, which in turn will verify it and then reward the supporter with "points" (assumedly to accumulate for McCain swag)

Among the "featured blogs" currently is Daily Kos, the well-read liberal blog run by Markos Moulitsas that frequently mocks and attacks Republicans such as McCain.

Asked about the effort to gin up online support, McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said, "We absolutely encourage our supporters to engage in this discussion."

As for the talking points, which currently link over to two recent McCain speeches, Rogers said they were "facts about John McCain and his record."

As close readers of Politico blogs and others know, Obama dominates both Clinton and McCain when it comes to drawing fervent online support.

[rudy23]

1. Don't worry---Blue Dogs ARE emulating such tactics.

I've chronicled many of them in my journal.

[Cha]

2. Yeah, who really knows who these fuckers

are spouting rw points on DU?

[tanyev]

3. McCain still has supporters?

[krispos42]

4. Effective?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=103&topic_id=498228&mesg_id=498237

Not here.

[Dogtown]

11. Good job, krispos42.

Tx for that one.

:applause:

[Sinti]

5. This is a pretty good business tactic in general

many companies use influencers of this sort. It started out as strictly a guerrilla marketing thing, but now it's pretty mainstream. You can hire firms that specialize in this sort marketing. It's done offline, also, influential students in college have been recruited, for instance. I imagine offline would have less success, due to the limits of reach.

[mmonk]

6. No, emulating them would serve no useful purpose.

They are intransigent.

[Dr Robert]

7. a few of them probably still troll the waters here

[Winterblues]

8. Just say NO is not really much of a talking point

What else do they have?

[TomCADem]

14. Well, You Can Just Re-Package RW Talking Points

Then add, "corporate give away," "big business," or "don't drink the Kool-Aid," to make a right wing talking point sound somewhat liberal sounding. It is kind of like adding "-in bed" to any fortune cookie message.

[Walk away]

9. They are all over the New York Times Opinion section.

These sad Goobers who have never read the paper are just waiting to be the first twenty to comment with their talking point garbage. Then they recommend themselves. Do they get paid? Really?

[JackRiddler]

12. You can tell by the repetition of certain key words no matter what

liberals
Pelosi
ACORN!!!

[mmonk]

13. Yep, like echo robots.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

10. I'll say something in support of McCain right here

He makes an absolutely stupendous zombie. I wish George Romero would feature him in a starring role in his next movie. Do I get any Maverick points for that?

[anonymous171]

15. That could explain the recent influx of hawks. nt

[tabasco]

16. Time for peace.

War sucks. I think it's Time For Peace.