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?"

[nicmarlo]

You hate John Kerry....then why do you use Kerry-esque tactics? You're a troll, just like Kerry.

[NonValueAdded]

Excellent! I should have rechecked this AM before posting. Was there an old saying about grandmothers and eggs? Hats off to JR for doing the right thing!

[nicmarlo]

I still hold that NCPAC's open comments were innocuous and that this is now more of a smear on NCPAC than it was on O'Malley.

I agree; I also agree that MD4Bush is a troll.....and he's to be just as despised as another fraud, John Kerry.

[Dane]

Finally got throught the whole thread and it seems that MD4Bush, IMO, are the Compost reporters.

Total setup to smear NCPAC and FR and protect O'Malley, IMO.

[conservative in nyc]

You hate John Kerry....then why do you use Kerry-esque tactics? You're a troll, just like Kerry.

I hope that wasn't directed at me. I might be cautious to jump to conclusions in my posts and give liberals more of the benefit of the doubt than they deserve, but I ain't no troll.

[nicmarlo]

You hate John Kerry....then why do you use Kerry-esque tactics? You're a troll, just like Kerry.

No, sorry, of course that comment wasn't directed toward you....post was directed to MD4Bush.

[nicmarlo]

it seems that MD4Bush, IMO, are the Compost reporters. Total setup to smear NCPAC and FR and protect O'Malley, IMO.

Obviously anyone who twists what NCPAC said into what MD4Bush claims he said, and anyone who solicits private FReepmail with the intent of making those private comments public, has an obvious agenda to smear NCPAC.

I believe JR knows the IP addresses of all posters, BTW.

[bitt]

thanks for the ping. need some coffee.

[NonValueAdded]

And to revise and extend my remarks in the best traditions of the US Congress:

1) The original thread is back up. Thank you, Jim Robinson.

2) When I said "I think we have A DUTY to do at least that much," I meant to repost the orignal thread, not to redact it. The suggestion to redact the thread was meant to provide middle ground. But as I said in my post, the WaPo has turned this into a legitimate news story, albeit by illegitimate means IMHO, and the original thread is vital to show the overreach of the WaPo article.

And of course our founder knew this and acted appropriately.

[alnick]

My guess is the "liberal wife" was a ruse to explain why such a good conservative as MD4BUSH would have access to something that was printed in a liberal rag.

[international american]

"liberal wife" was a ruse, methinks.

[anniegetyourgun]

Lots of infiltrators I've wondered about here.....like Redcat.

[Carry_Okie]

170,000 now, zowee!!!

It'll be more now that they've run this story.

[international american]

Thanks for the ping Meek. This is most interesting!

[advance_copy]

The REAL story here is that either:

1) The Washington Post used a fake "pro-Bush" (MD4Bush) account on Free Republic to entrap an aid to the Republican Governor of Maryland.

- or -

2) The Washington Post obtained illicit (and possibly illegal) copies of private e-mails between FReepers.

If MSM lurking here were worth their salt, they'd get on that story right now.

BTW nothing NCPAC posted on FR was cause for him to lose his job.

[mystery-ak]

Blog War

[norwaypinesavage]

"Looks like the Washington Post somehow has NCPAC's Freepmail to MD4BUSH."

Probably because they monitor this site. Just think: The WAPO pays someone to do what we do for free. The job probably has a high turnover. The reader turns conservative and has to be "terminated".

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

"There was a great article in the atlantic (lib mag my wife reads) about Rove."

That's what's known as a "flag."

[cyborg]

Stinks to high heaven to me... sleeper trolls for Soro$?

[conservative in nyc]

BTW nothing NCPAC posted on FR was cause for him to lose his job.

I'm not so sure. As NCPAC himself posted on Wednesday:

As for your other post asking why I posted certain things on FR if I knew they were wrong, please read my FR post which is quoted in the Washington Post. I never started the rumor. I was commenting on a rumor that had been out there. However, given the volatility of the situation - and knowing the blowback potential on the Governor - I opted out rather than letting him bleed further at the hands of O'Malley. By commenting on/propagating a story already out there, I was inadvertantly opening up the Governor as a target. That was a mistake, one for which I am willing to take full blame and consequence.

And he has since apologized to Mayor O'Malley. Perception is sometimes a lot more important than reality in politics.