Scandal Puts Focus On Role of Bloggers (WaPo on FR, NCPAC and MD4Bush)

Washington Post ^ | 02/11/05 | David Snyder and Matthew Mosk

[conservative in nyc]

The Web site began as a sort of Internet boutique for like-minded conservatives and libertarians, suspicious of federal power and angry at President Bill Clinton.

Started in 1997 by a reclusive California conservative, freerepublic.com saw its membership blossom with Clinton's impeachment and the election of George W. Bush. Attention to the site reached a zenith last fall, when a "freeper" -- the group's moniker for its bloggers -- first discussed flaws in documents CBS News used in a report critical of Bush's National Guard service.

---Snip---

One participant working under the handle MD4BUSH, whose identity is unknown, drew Steffen into a private conversation and appeared to coax him to share more details about his role in spreading the rumor. Copies of those chat room e-mails were later provided to The Washington Post.

The Oct. 18 conversation began with MD4BUSH complimenting Steffen and saying how obvious it was that the rumors about the mayor were true. Steffen, writing under the name NCPAC, replied:

"I don't look for the MO'M [O'Malley] story to hit for a little bit yet. . . . However, a lot of what everyone knows about MO'M is because of work that has occurred. It's been a wild ride."

MD4BUSH later probed further:

"Your saying that my dentist knows [about the rumors] because of work you did? Wow, I must say, I'm impressed. I mean really, everyone knows -- how did that happen?"

[alnick]

I am going to be much more cautions what I say to screen names that I am not familiar with.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to be cautious with screen names you are familiar with, at least to some extent. How difficult would it be for the enterprising "journalist" to spend a year or two visiting FR occasionally and posting, developing relationships?

[MeekOneGOP]

FreeRepublic busting Dan Rather and Freeper NCPAC mentioned.

And the WP "responsibly" burying stories is okay, apparently.

Must mean that FR is "really bad" for them, ha!

Scandal Puts Focus On Role of Bloggers
(WaPo on FR and NCPAC)

Excerpt:

The blogosphere "is the international waters of the Internet age -- a lawless area where anything goes," said Matthew Felling, media director for the nonpartisan Center for Media and Public Affairs. "Sometimes that means information the quote-unquote mainstream media are keeping you from, and sometimes that means rumors the mainstream media responsibly ignores."

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my General Interest ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[MeekOneGOP]

Done! Just hit my General Interest list. Thanks.

[leprechaun9]

Was this printed in the comic section of their fish wrapper?

The Jayson Blair Slimes, The Washington Compost, The Atlanta Constipation, Danny Blather, Mr. Potatoehead (Timmy Russert), George Step-on-the-populace, Barbara WaWA, etc. were distorting the scene long before the Internet gained wide acceptability.

The Internet is more popular than these Goebelite Avenues of the Democrap Party because many people don't trust them.

[Jim Robinson]

By the way, check out the message on this fraud's FR profile page:

"I hate John Kerry and I'm sick of his lies. This is the most important election in history and George bush must win. If not the Islamic Terrorists will win, there will be more attacks on the states."

http://www.freerepublic.com/~md4bush/

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Obviously the Dan Rather/Buckhead episode shook them up.

They seem to have put a bit of time into checking out the non-liberal blogosphere.

[BJungNan]

The WaPo is populated entirely by half-wits who wouldn't know a blog from a forum if they both introduced themselves and then bit them on their pompous asses.

I'll call them in the morning and let them know. Some copy editor is obvious not well informed.

[MEG33]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1340936/posts
Web has changed the shape of 'reporting' (Balt Sun Lurking; FR and NCPAC mentioned)

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Not likely, for the social club socialists, any rubbing of elbows with the hoi poloi just ends up just reinforcing the mindset that they are the ones who should be in charge.

Most of the conservatives I know are real salt of the earth types, a little coarse, but people who would literally give you the shirt off their backs if you were in honest need. To the leftists, thats just a sign that the red staters are uneducated rednecks who don't know how to look after their own best interests.

You can not educate these people. If they are so confused about the world as to believe the fantasies they are printing, they are a lost cause. You can hope for a miraculous 'Coming to Jesus' moment, but it's not likely.

[HAL9000]

It's entirely possible that MD4BUSH is with WaPo.

That is dubious speculation, and I doubt that the Washington Post would engage in such tactics. It's more likely that the e-mail messages were illegally intercepted and that a criminal violation of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act occurred.

The best way to find out is to file a lawsuit against the John Doe who apparently violated the ECPA and issue the subpoenas.

Schedule a sworn deposition from "MD4Bush" and ask him if he is the same person involved in the original communications, and is the same person who posted a couple of days ago, and who might have been in a position to access those messages without his knowledge, and whether or not he authorized the release of the private messages to any third parties, and what was the identity of those third parties, and whether those third parties passed the private messages to others, etc.

There are a bunch of questions that MD4Bush needs to answer, and a good attorney will only need a few hours with him to obtain his statement. Then things can proceed from there.

[LibertarianInExile]

Of course there is a connection. But it'll never be exposed without conservative news media that is both print and tv. Fox isn't conservative--it's actually pretty left in news, while conservative in commentary--and there aren't many conservative papers besides the Manchester Union-Leader left.

[BunnySlippers]

Bingo!

[leadhead]

The papers waited until they could find a way to sting the GOP with it. And it was only possible because the "media" ignored the story in the first placeI think they were going for a trifecta: Erlich, FR and....O'Malley.

I think the BS is committed to Duncan and O'Malley is going to get it in the back regularly from them.(stop whatever you're thinking!)

WaPo got a story, BS got a lob shot to slam everyone with.

[MEG33]

GRRRRR..I hate duplicity.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Any techies here want to explain the various methods that these emails could have been intercepted? (This is a "Buckhead" opportunity).

This is a whale of story for anyone who can nail the guilty party.

[MEG33]

I'll just bet someone is at work on that.

[SkyPilot]

"Sometimes that means information the quote-unquote mainstream media are keeping you from, and sometimes that means rumors the mainstream media responsibly ignores."

[MEG33]

Bingo

[CDHart]

"They are after Free Republic,"

You're exactly right -- they'd love to get rid of us, I'm sure.

Carolyn

[conservative in nyc]

It's on page B01.