Smear Campaign Against Palin may be the work of Professionals

| No Comments

Here is a remarkable investigative piece by the Jawa Report which suggests that the rumors and false allegations about Sarah Palin may have been the work of a professional public relations firm. Although not conclusive, and often hanging on what could be coincidence (e.g., identical alias used in multiple systems), I think the probability is quite high that at least some of the associations will be proven within the next 24 hours. The YouTube video at the source of the controversy has already been removed by its poster although the Google version is still online.

Update: Rusty has re-posted the youtube video and provided a screen capture from the original poster's account (eswinner). The story is going to be huge tomorrow.

Update2: "Eswinner"'s youtube account has been deleted. A related YouTube account, "Gocamerica," that was spreading the lie has now also tried covering its tracks and has been closed. See Michelle Malkin and Hyscience for more. With the criticism the eswinner account was receiving after the Jawa Report story first was published, I figured this would happen and captured screenshots last night [click here and here], shortly after the video was removed from youtube.

eswinner_youtube.gif

The video is professionally produced and appears tied through the user's alias (and other similar evidence) to a Democrat-linked high profile media consulting firm. There are other associations as well which may lead investigators quite close to the Barack Obama campaign.

I'm posting their summary but you'll want to read the entire report:

Extensive research was conducted by the Jawa Report to determine the source of smears directed toward Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Those smears included false allegations that she belonged to a secessionist political party and that she has radical anti-American views.

Our research suggests that a subdivision of one of the largest public relations firms in the world most likely started and promulgated rumors about Sarah Palin that were known to be false. These rumors were spread in a surreptitious manner to avoid exposure.

It is also likely that the PR firm was paid by outside sources to run the smear campaign. While not conclusive, evidence suggests a link to the Barack Obama campaign. Namely:


  • Evidence suggests that a YouTube video with false claims about Palin was uploaded and promoted by members of a professional PR firm.

  • The family that runs the PR firm has extensive ties to the Democratic Party, the netroots, and are staunch Obama supporters.

  • Evidence suggests that the firm engaged in a concerted effort to distribute the video in such a way that it would appear to have gone viral on its own. Yet this effort took place on company time.

  • Evidence suggests that these distribution efforts included actions by at least one employee of the firm who is unconnected with the family running the company.

  • The voice-over artist used in this supposedly amateur video is a professional.

  • This same voice-over artist has worked extensively with David Axelrod's firm, which has a history of engaging in phony grassroots efforts, otherwise known as "astroturfing."

  • David Axelrod is Barack Obama's chief media strategist.

  • The same voice-over artist has worked directly for the Barack Obama campaign.

This suggests that false rumors and outright lies about Sarah Palin and John McCain being spread on the internet are being orchestrated by political partisans and are not an organic grassroots phenomenon led by the left wing fringe.

If these hypotheses are confirmed, the ramifications will huge.


Dan Riehl has the reader's digest version. He aptly notes,
Politics aside, if this was the professional manipulation that it appears to be, it is not good for blogs, Left or Right. It undermines their credibility and makes them no better than a propaganda tool become smear merchant for whatever candidate they happen to support.

HT: And Rightly So

Updates::

Jawa Report - UPDATE: Within an hour of this post going up, YouTube videos implicating Ethan Winner were yanked, sockpuppet accounts deleted, and more importantly, the Wikipedia entry on David Axelrod began to edit out mentions of his well know astroturfing campaigns. Hmmm, it sounds to me like we're on to something.

David Axelrod has long been known for his political magic. Through his AKP&D Message & Media consultancy, the campaign veteran has advised a succession of Democratic candidates since 1985, and he's now chief strategist for Senator Barack Obama's bid for President. But on the down low, Axelrod moonlights in the private sector. - Business Week

Astroturfing, the new propaganda plague - American Thinker

Talk Back - leave a comment


Receive Updates

Enter your Email



Blogs4Life

button02b.gif

Categories

Archives

Recent Comments

Veeja: "Come What May is not impressive. Not only ..."

Fiona: "Yes, I agree that anyone pro-life should be ..."

Pro-life atheist: "Steve, if it makes you feel any better, ..."

Jayme: "This is a free country, and everyone is ..."

Ronald Johnson: "Yes they should. There are children being murdered ..."

Bekah Ferguson: "Steve Sanborn, you should note that in my ..."

Steve Sanborn: "Bekah, Sinless? It's obvious that I do not ..."

Pro-Life Articles

add your site
RealChoice Jul 4, 2009, 12:55 pm
Pro-Life Unity Jul 4, 2009, 10:14 pm
My Chocolate Heart Jul 4, 2009, 5:00 pm
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 10:14 pm
Love Undefiled Jul 4, 2009, 5:02 pm
Isn't It Rich Jul 4, 2009, 10:15 am
Dr. Melissa Clouthier Jul 4, 2009, 4:19 pm
Catholic Fire Jul 4, 2009, 10:43 am
BIG BLUE WAVE Jul 4, 2009, 12:16 pm
Threshing Grain Jul 4, 2009, 7:32 am
Love Undefiled Jul 4, 2009, 4:52 pm
Evangelical Catholicism May 30, 2007, 6:37 am
Conservative Musings Jul 4, 2009, 4:12 pm
Wisdom Begun Jul 4, 2009, 2:41 pm
View from the choir Jul 4, 2009, 11:12 am
Political Byline Jul 4, 2009, 2:20 pm
John Smeaton, SPUC director Jul 4, 2009, 1:51 pm
DEACON FOR LIFE Jul 4, 2009, 11:10 am
CatHouse Chat Jul 4, 2009, 2:22 pm
Catholic Church Conservation Jul 4, 2009, 4:18 pm
Political Byline Jul 4, 2009, 2:20 pm
OKIE on the LAM Jul 4, 2009, 1:43 pm
Kyrie Eleison Jul 4, 2009, 1:55 pm
Challies Dot Com Jul 4, 2009, 2:52 pm
World Magazine Blog Jul 4, 2009, 1:26 pm
Why Mommy Is A Republican Jul 4, 2009, 6:50 am
V for Victory! Jul 4, 2009, 7:21 am
Evangelical Catholicism Jul 4, 2009, 6:52 am
Dr Roy's Thoughts Jul 4, 2009, 12:13 pm
CatHouse Chat Jul 4, 2009, 12:46 pm
Voice of Revolution Jul 4, 2009, 12:27 pm
Voice of Revolution Jul 4, 2009, 12:30 pm
Right Wing News Jul 4, 2009, 12:34 pm
Laura Echevarria Jul 4, 2009, 7:32 am
Isn't It Rich Jul 4, 2009, 6:34 am
Hillbilly White Trash Jul 4, 2009, 7:12 am
The Blog of St. Mark Jul 4, 2009, 12:13 pm
Conservative Heritage Times Jul 4, 2009, 12:10 pm
CNSNews.com Headlines Jul 4, 2009, 7:49 am
2SecondsFaster.com Jul 4, 2009, 11:42 am
RealChoice Jul 4, 2009, 7:18 am
Preserving A Generation Jul 4, 2009, 11:00 am
Hyscience Jul 4, 2009, 11:41 am
Hillbilly White Trash Jul 4, 2009, 6:58 am
Values Voter News Jul 4, 2009, 4:01 am
ScrappleFace Jul 4, 2009, 9:45 am
Salt and Light Jul 4, 2009, 10:26 am
Right Wing News Jul 4, 2009, 11:06 am
PARENTING FREEDOM.com Jul 4, 2009, 9:50 am
Mommy Life Jul 4, 2009, 8:47 am
HicktownPress Jul 4, 2009, 9:41 am
here we are Jul 4, 2009, 3:33 am
A Damsel No Longer in Distress May 2, 2009, 4:22 pm
Thoughts On God, Politics and Man Jul 4, 2009, 10:03 am
Seek His Face Jul 4, 2009, 6:02 am
PARENTING FREEDOM.com Jul 4, 2009, 9:11 am
Missionaries of the Eucharist Jul 4, 2009, 4:07 am
jillstanek.com Jul 4, 2009, 9:50 am
Hyscience Jul 4, 2009, 10:03 am
The Ohio Anglican.blog Jul 3, 2009, 8:01 pm
Stop The ACLU Jul 4, 2009, 9:19 am
Dakota Voice (Blog) Jul 4, 2009, 8:30 am
Cao's Blog Jul 4, 2009, 9:15 am
View from the choir Jul 4, 2009, 4:06 am
View from the choir Jul 4, 2009, 4:38 am
Spero News Jul 4, 2009, 8:36 am
Pro-Life PA by Sue Cirba Jul 4, 2009, 4:17 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 8:47 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 9:04 am
My View of the World Jul 4, 2009, 8:01 am
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 12:27 pm
Mommy Life Jul 4, 2009, 6:42 am
Les Femmes - The Truth Jul 4, 2009, 7:25 am
Les Femmes - The Truth Jul 4, 2009, 3:25 am
Hyscience Jul 4, 2009, 8:38 am
The Judge Report Jul 4, 2009, 8:19 am
Dakota Voice (Blog) Jul 4, 2009, 7:30 am
Dakota Voice (Blog) Jul 4, 2009, 8:00 am
Catholic Church Conservation Jul 4, 2009, 9:50 am
View from the choir Jul 4, 2009, 4:02 am
Sanctus Christopher Jul 4, 2009, 2:03 am
reasoned audacity Jul 4, 2009, 5:27 am
Pro-Life Unity Jul 4, 2009, 12:27 pm
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 7:46 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 7:58 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 7:54 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 8:10 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 8:07 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 8:00 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 8:09 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 8:10 am
MandM Jul 4, 2009, 3:15 am
The Lewis Crusade Jul 4, 2009, 7:00 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:20 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:24 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:30 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:39 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:52 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 7:05 am
World Magazine Blog Jul 4, 2009, 7:04 am
Values Voter News Jul 4, 2009, 12:01 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 7:35 am
The Common Room Jul 4, 2009, 1:00 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 5:58 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:02 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:06 am
DFW Catholic.org Jul 4, 2009, 6:16 am
A Catholic View Jul 4, 2009, 5:00 am
A Catholic View Jul 4, 2009, 5:01 am
Why Mommy Is A Republican Jul 4, 2009, 12:45 am
News Jul 4, 2009, 2:44 pm
My Domestic Church Jul 3, 2009, 11:30 pm
Catholic Fire Jul 3, 2009, 8:30 pm
2SecondsFaster.com Jul 4, 2009, 3:40 am
The Lewis Crusade Jul 4, 2009, 3:00 am
Values Voter News Jul 3, 2009, 8:01 pm
Political Byline Jul 4, 2009, 1:08 am
Pro-Life Unity Jul 4, 2009, 7:08 am
Pro-Life Unity Jul 4, 2009, 6:57 am
Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 2:51 am
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 6:57 am
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 7:08 am
Is Anybody There? Jul 3, 2009, 8:48 pm
Dakota Voice (Blog) Jul 4, 2009, 2:02 am
causa nostrae laetitiae Jul 3, 2009, 9:17 pm
Political Byline Jul 4, 2009, 1:08 am
Is Anybody There? Jul 3, 2009, 8:00 pm
From The Morning Jul 3, 2009, 7:26 pm
FREEDOM EDEN Jul 3, 2009, 8:01 pm
Caffeinated Thoughts Jul 4, 2009, 12:32 am
BIG BLUE WAVE Jul 3, 2009, 8:11 pm
www.TheReaganWing.com Jul 4, 2009, 12:46 am
Right Wing News Jul 4, 2009, 1:23 am
Lutherans & Contraception Apr 3, 2009, 5:00 pm
Kevin McCullough's TownHall Blog Jul 4, 2009, 12:04 am
Is Anybody There? Jul 3, 2009, 7:09 pm
BIG BLUE WAVE Jul 3, 2009, 7:31 pm
Sanctus Christopher Jul 3, 2009, 5:58 pm
Pro-Life Unity Jul 4, 2009, 3:26 am
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 10:24 pm
Multimedia Pro-Life News Jul 4, 2009, 3:26 am
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 9:37 pm
Hillbilly White Trash Jul 3, 2009, 5:22 pm
The Lewis Crusade Jul 3, 2009, 11:00 pm
Blowing San #1 Jul 3, 2009, 10:27 pm
Values Voter News Jul 3, 2009, 4:01 pm
RealChoice Jul 3, 2009, 5:37 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 10:24 pm
Lutherans & Contraception Jul 3, 2009, 5:46 pm
Les Femmes - The Truth Jul 3, 2009, 8:05 pm
Les Femmes - The Truth Jul 3, 2009, 4:05 pm
Guarino Jul 3, 2009, 9:05 pm
The Lady in the Pew Jul 3, 2009, 9:08 pm
Sudan Watch Jul 3, 2009, 9:21 pm
Blowing San #1 Jul 3, 2009, 9:39 pm
Blowing San #1 Jul 3, 2009, 9:55 pm
Thoughts of a Regular Guy Jul 3, 2009, 4:13 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 7:43 pm
The Evangelical Ecologist Jul 3, 2009, 7:20 pm
Stop The ACLU Jul 3, 2009, 9:19 pm
Blowing San #1 Jul 3, 2009, 8:36 pm
Pundit & Pundette Jul 3, 2009, 7:47 pm
Pope Benedict XVI Blog Jul 3, 2009, 2:30 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 7:43 pm
NoisyRoom.net Jul 3, 2009, 8:15 pm
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 7:35 pm
MICHNEWS.COM Jul 3, 2009, 11:36 pm
MICHNEWS.COM Jul 3, 2009, 11:40 pm
Kevin Tracy Jul 3, 2009, 7:54 pm
Chris Dickson Jul 3, 2009, 2:14 pm
Caffeinated Thoughts Jul 3, 2009, 7:59 pm
A Catholic View Jul 3, 2009, 6:16 pm
Wells of Hope Jul 3, 2009, 7:37 pm
Verum Serum Jul 3, 2009, 7:21 pm
Rebelution Jul 3, 2009, 6:46 pm
Political Byline Jul 3, 2009, 6:03 pm
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 5:34 pm
Mommy Life Jul 3, 2009, 5:40 pm
MCCL Blog Jul 3, 2009, 6:32 pm
HicktownPress Jul 3, 2009, 6:44 pm
Dr Roy's Thoughts Jul 3, 2009, 6:27 pm
The Chatterbox Chronicles Jul 3, 2009, 1:04 pm
causa nostrae laetitiae Jul 3, 2009, 2:49 pm
Values Voter News Jul 3, 2009, 12:01 pm
Thoughts of a Regular Guy Jul 3, 2009, 1:33 pm
Thoughts of a Regular Guy Jul 3, 2009, 1:58 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 6:45 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 6:47 pm
Right Wing News Jul 3, 2009, 6:55 pm