Political bloggers fear publicists will infiltrate sites

Boston Globe ^ | February 23, 2007 | Alan Wirzbicki

[GQuagmire]

........So when postings from an unknown writer on the site showed up praising Senator John McCain -- one of the site's least-popular Republicans for his deviations from hard-core conservative orthodoxy -- Erickson thought he smelled a rat.

Or maybe a sock puppet, shill, or a troll --

[GQuagmire]

Globe excerpt only. Sock puppet?

[Huck]

It occurred to me a long time ago that if I were a Republican politician with an agenda, I would pay someone or a few someones to post regularly on this and other sites. It'd pretty much be insane not to.

[tearlenb]

People pretending to be something that they are not, while on the internet?! Unheard of....

[Between the Lines]

So now are we going to have to carry disclaimers instead of tag lines?

[Always Right]

Wonder how much it pays to be a sock puppet and where do you apply?

[Raycpa]

Paging GreenEyedBlond, DeepintheHurtgeonForest, and many others .

[org.whodat]

It occurred to me a long time ago that if I were a Republican politician with an agenda, I would pay someone or a few someones to post regularly on this and other sites. It'd pretty much be insane not to.

Just read some of the rudy in drag posts and you will see the paid rudy bots come out.

[abb]

The Drive-By Media invented sock puppetry - for Democrats...

[Always Right]

"But I think there is an ethical line crossed when someone is actually being paid to sound like they're not being paid."

We have had some of thoes, probably more than we know.

[mware]

I remember once there was a thread speculating on what screen names certain pols would take here a FR.

We all know they come here to check out what is on our minds.

most certainly the media does, Tony Snow once told me that FR was required show prep before his programs on the radio.

[mware]

I think we said that Waxman would use the screen name Phantom of the Opera.

[HEY4QDEMS]

It occurred to me a long time ago that if I were a Republican politician with an agenda, I would pay someone or a few someones to post regularly on this and other sites.

Kinda reminds me of the "MyManMitt.com" trash that gets posted here every day.

[Izzy Dunne]

I am not being paid to make this comment.

[Peach]

With big corporations now hiring public relations firms to pay fake bloggers to plant favorable opinions of the businesses online, many political bloggers are concerned that candidates, too, will hire people to pretend to be grass-roots citizens expressing views.

Oh for crying out loud. This has been going on for years and the media is just now figuring it out?

[100-Fold_Return]

Sock puppets? A few monikers come to mind...

[Raycpa]

Isn't everyone on Jim's payroll here?

[HEY4QDEMS]

The pay sucks, but the benefits kick ass!

[Huck]

lol...yeah, i know. what's the world coming to?

[Miss Marple]

Of course, ONLY Rudy supporters could be something other than what they seem. Democrats would NEVER pose as conservatives, would they? And Duncan Hunter supporters are NEVER paid supporters, are they?

Either one has to assume that most posters are what they seem, or one has to assume that ALL candidates have some less than honest posters. Any other position defies logic.

I have no favorite candidate. I will be judging who I support based on the debates and events yet to happen; I am also looking at the caliber and temperment of candidates' supporters, as that will give me a clue as to the type of people I will see advance in that candidate's campaign and administration.

So far, the anti-Rudy people are not winning any points with me.

[Nathan Zachary]

"Wonder how much it pays to be a sock puppet and where do you apply?"

As Ed thye sock puppet. I think he makes pretty good money, but he's a self-made sock puppet.