Oppo Research in the Tradition of Einstein (Free Republic under fire)

The Corner at National Review Online ^ | 28 June 2008 | Byron York

[SE Mom]

The Washington Post has published an unintentionally amusing article this morning about one Danielle Allen, a "razor-sharp, 36-year-old political theorist" at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Studies. Allen, with doctorates from Cambridge and Harvard, won a $500,000 MacArthur Foundation genius grant a few years ago and now conducts studies at the Institute, where, according to the Post, "she works alongside groundbreaking physicists, mathematicians and social scientists. They don't have to teach, and they face no quotas on what they publish. Their only mandate is to work in the tradition of Einstein, wrestling with the most vexing problems in the universe."

And one of the most vexing problems in the universe, which Allen has decided to pursue in the tradition of Einstein, is the origin of a number of e-mails claiming that Barack Obama is a Muslim. Using the advanced research tools at her disposal, the razor-sharp Allen found…a couple of posters on the Free Republic website, plus a former political rival of Obama's who sends out zillions of e-mails to reporters every day.

The former political rival appears to have been completely open about the stuff he sent out, some of which was based on arguments similar to an op-ed that appeared in the pages of the New York Times. As for Free Republic, according to the Post, Allen "counted 23 freepers among those engaging in regular discussions about Obama's religion, and isolated a handful whom she began to suspect as having a role in the e-mail. Sifting through hundreds of postings, she began to piece together their identities."

Allen gave her information to the Post reporter, who used it to track down two allegedly offending freepers, one a 69-year-old retired grandfather in the suburbs of Boston and the other a 60-year-old schoolteacher in rural Washington state. Both said they had nothing to do with the emails. And that's about it.

But the article has a pretty clear subtext, and it is that the exchange of such information on the Internet should be controlled. "I started thinking, 'How does one stop it?'" Allen told the Post. "Citizens and political scientists must face the fact that the Internet has enabled a new form of political organization that is just as influential on local and national elections as unions and political action committees…This kind of misinformation campaign short-circuits judgment. It also aggressively disregards the fundamental principle of free societies that one be able to debate one's accusers."

Of course, we have laws that regulate the political activities of unions and political action committees. Is it going too far to guess that the scholar from the Institute for Advanced Studies might be searching for some way to do the same for Free Republic?

06/28 08:45 AM

[mnehring]

She is probably a brilliant and pleasant woman, however, she should understand that if she goes around under the guise of her office, making accusations about others starting smear campaigns, her motivation for accusing others will be questioned. In this case, her motivation and her research show a clear bias toward the Obama campaign. She also apparently has been using her position for personal business, which is against her organizations ethics’ policy.

As I said, she is probably a brilliant and pleasant woman, just like Obama is probably a brilliant and pleasant man, but that doesn't mean we have to agree with what they say nor does that make them immune from questioning their motivation for policies or statements.

[aculeus]

Since she’s African-American both tales could be true.

[Grampa Dave]

Beckwith, you are probably aware of this this.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/27/AR2008062703781.html

[SE Mom]

Hah!

FUBAR

[tiredoflaundry]

One does it with patience and love of a puzzle.

[Stentor]

She looks pretty sharp

As sharp as a Fascist axe.

[jennyjenny]

Yeah, what you said! I’ve been asking the same question.

[Grampa Dave]

Here’s the link to the Washington Post piece referenced by Byron York:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/27/AR2008062703781.html

Beckwith responds to the Compost:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2037813/posts

[FocusNexus]

Your link just goes to The Corner, not directly to the article, I had to search to find it.

You might want to ask the AM to replace it with the direct link:

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZTQxOTM4MzYwYjIzZDM0N2YwMmJkNTBlYzM4Y2I5MGE=

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

Got to go...grandkids started stirring, and I’m duty cook. (Pancakes with Huckleberry syrup, I think.)

Want to start a pool on?????:

1) How long before WaPo pulls the story.

2) How soon The O throws the lady UTB along with the rest of his embarrassments.

(I’ll take, in order above, “0800EDT 6/30/08” and “0801EDT 6/30/08”. JMHO, this story’s going to disappear so fast, you’ll think it was good news from Iraq.)

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Hmmmmm,,,, I wonder if Ms Allen is a friend of Ms Obamy’s?????

[txhurl]

Danielle Allen, Ph.D, UTB (under the bus) lol.

[FocusNexus]

Thanks for posting the link to the WP also. I missed it when presumably was posted earlier.

“Of the file folders that are spread in neat rows across Allen’s desk, only one is bulging. It holds printouts of the reams of conversations about Obama’s religion appearing on Free Republic. Since its start in 1996 by Jim Robinson of Fresno, Calif., the site has grown into a home for discussion of all types — though it is particularly noted for spirited political discussions dominated by conservatives and libertarians. Freepers, as they’re called, converse with a varying degree of transparency. Most remain anonymous. “

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“Personalized Results 1 - 10 of about 21,000,000 for “Kuran”.
I wrote 20,999,999 of those! She caught the other guy!

[SE Mom]

Actually- when I posted the piece this morning it was either the first or second one posted for the day- since I’m an avid Corner reader I just popped it up without getting a precise link...

[mware]

“Personalized Results 1 - 10 of about 21,000,000 for “Kuran”. I wrote 20,999,999 of those! She caught the other guy!

Good thing she did not look for personalized results for

THAILAND

or,

THUD

[SE Mom]

Normally- I’d agree. However, since Byron York has this piece at The Corner and it’s now been forwarded to approx a zillion Freepers (to borrow a number from the brilliant Ms. Allen) and beyond- they’re going to look awfully foolish if they decide to pull.

I know, I know...when has that stopped them...

[SE Mom]

ping :)

[STARWISE]

Oh, the young, fertile minds that will be corrupted by this distorted thinking ... pray for our country.

~~~~~~~~~~

From: The University of Chicago Chronicle
March 18, 2004

Allen, 2001 MacArthur fellow, to serve as Dean

Danielle Allen

Classics professor Danielle Allen will become Dean of the Division of the Humanities, beginning July 1. Allen, 32, who has produced influential work on democracy, citizenship and justice in both ancient Greece and modern America, is the first MacArthur fellow to become a Dean at the University.

“Danielle Allen is not only a brilliant scholar, an inspiring teacher, and an engaged and enlightened citizen,” said President Randel. “She also is a person who understands that the eternal truths of our humanistic traditions must be constantly re-energized and applied in our lives, if we have any hope of living as thoughtful human beings and worthy citizens of a great democracy.

“Through her scholarship, her teaching and her service, she has shown that she understands and is willing to share these truths with her colleagues, with her students and with her fellow citizens. We are most fortunate that she has agreed to apply some of her wisdom and energy to the leadership of our Humanities Division, and I very much look forward to working with her.”

As Dean, Allen will oversee the research, teaching and administration of the division, which includes 15 departments and six committees that cover languages, literatures and culture. She will succeed Janel Mueller, the William Rainey Harper Distinguished Service Professor in the College, who has been Dean since 1999.

~~~~

This is moving along and obviously an ORGANIZED strategy ... The dims have a petition going at their website (which I won't post)...!!!

"Fox News Smear Campaign"

"FOX must stop injecting racism, prejudice, and fear into our political dialogue. We intend to hold FOX, its advertisers, and its personalities accountable for FOX's attempts to smear the Obamas." Click here to learn more and sign:"

*snip*

"Please stop perpetuating racism and predjudice. We will not patronize your organization (or sponsors) if you continue. And, we will inform our friends and family. Thanks,"

***********

Is she disclosing her long personal relationship with the Obamas via their University of Chicago affiliations?

***

Ooops -- little bombshell .. just found this:

*****

Washington Post names author Andy Martin as Obama source

2008-06-28 10:44:30 - Was Danielle Allen violating federal law by using tax-exempt facilities to do Obama campaign research? What are Allen's links to Obama and his campaign? The Washington Post is silent on these critical questions.

NEW YORK news conference:
WASHINGTON POST NAMES AUTHOR ANDY MARTIN AS OBAMA SOURCE ANDY MARTIN
Executive Editor
ContrarianCommentary.com

'Factually Correct, Not Politically Correct'

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ATTENTION DAYBOOK/ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW YORK NEWS CONFERENCE JUNE 28, 2008

OBAMA AUTHOR ANDY MARTIN RESPONDS TO WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE NAMING MARTIN AS THE SOURCE OF COMMENTS ABOUT OBAMA'S RELIGIOUS ROOTS

MARTIN ACCUSES WASHINGTON POST OF CREATING "MANCHURIAN SURROGATE"

FOR OBAMA'S DISINFORMATION

MARTIN'S CONTROVERSIAL BEST SELLER ON OBAMA WILL BE AVAILABLE NATIONALLY WITHIN DAYS

WAS THE WASHINGTON POST DUPED BY THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN?

********

MUST go to link for the rest of the information.

Snippet:

"(NEW YORK)(June 28, 2008) Legendary Chicago Internet columnist and Obama author Andy Martin will hold a New York news conference Saturday, June 28th to respond to an article today in the Washington Post identifying him as the original source of information about Barack Obama's religion. Martin will also charge that far from being an innocent victim, Obama has been a perpetrator of the confusion over his religion and Obama is engaging in his own Internet terror tactics.

The Washington Post article is found at: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/27/AR20080 ..

Martin says the Washington Post article is accurate and factual as it applies to him, but that the Post story raises more questions than it answers.

"In so far as my contact with the Post," Martin will state, "Mr. Mosk accurately reports my role and, as far as I can remember, correctly reports our interview.

"But Mosk produced an incomplete form of journalism. He writes a long article about Danielle Allen, but she is a very suspicious character to say the least. Mosk uncritically swallows Allen's story.

"First, despite the fact that Allen claims to have conducted exhaustive research, she never contacted me. How could she claim to be conducting 'research' without contacting the putative source? Scholarly research would have mandated even a pro forma contact.

"Second, Ms. Allen has been using tax exempt facilities to conduct her political research. Once again, an Obama supporter is caught apparently violating the law.

"Third, although she is identified as a 'political expert' there is no indication that Allen has any experience in politics whatsoever. Perhaps that is why Allen's research was so amateurish and deficient. Her online resume shows no political background, unless she wants to count studying ancient Athens as a model for Obama's role in the Chicago Democratic Machine.

[SE Mom]

Speaking of oppo research :)

I’m out for a couple of hours...will check back for developments.

Who was it that said anything can happen in June? ;)