Freelance Political Hit Men

A good article in today's New York Times is both revealing and confirming of the role of freelance political hit men in the internet presidential campaign wars. It reveals examples of who some of these people are and how they operate. In my 6.21.08 post regarding Obama's anti-rumor plan, I talked about his new website for responding to and debunking fabrications and distortions about him placed on the internet. I noted that,

The sources are most often anonymous political operatives--the dark forces operatives, I call them--who work out of the dark, unaccountable corners of the internet. It is not always clear to what extent they are formally commissioned by candidates or campaigns, or to what extent it is the work of freelancing political
zealots.

Well, with the work of journalists like Jim Rutenberg at the NYT, and Obama's internet warriors and others like them, we are learning a lot more about these shady, unprincipled political players and the damage they do all candidates, including yours.

So, before we are tempted to be cheerleaders for our favorite over-the-top attack on our least favorite candidate, we need to recognize that these people are really just internet terrorists. Their purpose is the frustration of the effective functioning of the democratic process itself.

By fabricating lies and distortions that appeal to people's prejudices or naivete, they take the focus off the policy issues and make the contest one of ad hominem personal attacks--i.e. who can do the most damage to the candidates' personal reputation and public perception. And when the substantive issues are addressed, the attacks continue with more lies or misleading simplifications that impede the voters ability to accurately compare the candidates and make informed voting decisions. These dark forces operatives are people with real issues; they are not your friends, regardless of your political persuasion-- unless political anarchy is your idea of a democratic process.

Whoever your preferred candidate may be, whatever your political affiliation, your candidate's public credibility and respect are best served by reporting and passing on information that stays reasonably close to the facts and fair representations. We all recognize the hit man's simple, sound-bite format, the unqualified quote and/or picture out of context. Don't read them and don't pass them on. That's what the delete key is for. Consult reputable, public, full-disclosure sources--and also consult multiple sources sympathetic to each of the candidates. Be well informed. All candidates and voters--and our democracy--will in that way be better served.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25433456/