As I noted here, Chris Bowers over at MyDD has been organizing a Googlebomb campaign for the 2006 election to smear Republican candidates in crucial races.
Well, why should Lefty bloggers have all the googlebombing fun? John Hawkins at Rightwing News has organized a counter-googlebomb effort.
I’m just doing my part to help out:
______________
Senate
Connecticut: Ned Lamont
Maryland: Ben Cardin
Michigan: Debbie Stanbenow
Missouri: Claire McCaskill
Montana: Jon Tester
New Jersey: Bob Menendez
Tennessee: Harold Ford
Virginia: James Webb
Democrat Held Seats
(CO-03): John Salazar
(GA-03): Jim Marshall
(GA-12): John Barrow
(IA-03): Leonard Boswell
(IL-08): Melissa Bean
(IL-17): Phil Hare
(IN-07): Julia Carson
(NC-13): Brad Miller
(PA-12): John Murtha
(WV-01): Alan Mollohan
Republican Held Seats
(AZ-08): Gabrielle Giffords
(CT-04): Diane Farrell
(CT-05): Chris Murphy
(CO-07): Ed Perlmutter
(IA-01): Bruce Braley
(IL-06): Tammy Duckworth
(IN-02): Joe Donnelly
(IN-08): Brad Ellsworth
(IN-09): Baron Hill
(FL-13): Christine Jennings
(FL-16): Tim Mahoney
(FL-22): Ron Klein
(KY-03): John Yarmuth
(NC-01): Heath Shuler
(MN-06): Patty Wetterling
(NM-01): Patricia Madrid
(NY-20): Kirsten Gillibrand
(NY-24): Michael Arcuri
(NY-26): Jack Davis
(OH-15): Mary Jo Kilroy
(OH-18): Zack Space
(PA-06): Lois Murphy
(PA-08): Patrick Murphy
(PA-07): Joe Sestak
(PA-10): Chris Carney
(VA-02): Phil Kellam
(WI-08): Steve Kagen
_________________
Edited to add more links to YouTube videos:
Senate
Connecticut: Ned Lamont
Maryland: Ben Cardin
Maryland: Ben Cardin
Missouri: Claire McCaskill
Missouri: Claire McCaskill
Michigan: Debbie Stabenow
Montana: Jon Tester
Ohio: Sherrod Brown
Pennsylvania: Bob Casey
Tennessee: Harold Ford
Tennessee: Harold Ford
New Jersey: Bob Menendez
Virginia: James Webb
House
(AZ-5): Harry Mitchell
(AZ-08): Gabrielle Giffords
(CO-07): Ed Perlmutter
(CT-04): Diane Farrell
(CT-05): Chris Murphy
(FL-16): Tim Mahoney
(GA-03): Jim Marshall
(GA-12): John Barrow
(IA-01): Bruce Braley
(IL-06): Tammy Duckworth
(IL-17): Phil Hare
(IN-08): Brad Ellsworth
(IN-09): Baron Hill
(NC-13): Brad Miller
(NH-02): Paul Hodes
(NM-01): Patricia Madrid
(NY-20): Kirsten Gillibrand
(NY-24): Michael Arcuri
(NY-29): Eric Massa
(OH-15): Mary Jo Kilroy
(OH-18): Zack Space
(PA-07): Joe Sestak
(PA-10): Chris Carney
(PA-08): Patrick Murphy
(PA-12): John Murtha
(VA-02): Phil Kellam
(WA-8): Darcy Burner
(WI-08): Steve Kagen
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Reactions to Democratic Campaign Tactic from Right Wing Activists:
1. Outrage
2. Complaints to Media
3. Imitation
It simply reinforces the fact that the Dems are void of real ideas, and their best plans for winning include smear campaigns and running on the “we’re not them” platform.
I think this is borderline dirty campaiging trick…but not over the line, and since it’s done by grassroots citizens rather than directly by the politicians themselves, I’m definitley not “outraged”.
As for imitation? You can call it that, although it’s not exactly accurate — this is an effort to counter and offset an effort from the Dems.
If someone punches me in the face…when I punch him back, it’s not imitation. It’s an appropriate reaction.
I think this is borderline dirty campaiging trick
Conceptually, I don’t like the idea that Google results can be manipulated but I agree with the distiction between grassroots activism and the campaigns. Because, really, if 10,000 people linking to Rep. John Sweeney refer to a story about him partying with frat boys, who’s to say that it shouldn’t be at the top of the Google results page.
But I have to disagree with your ‘by any means necessary’ of campaigning. (Which is probably why Democrats lost the last two elections.) If the opponent is running an unethical campaign I just don’t believe you imitate it.