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The Perils of Obama's Open Community Blogs Policy

June 09, 2008 10:48 AM

Apparently there is little to no vetting for the community blogs on Sen. Barack Obama's homepage.

That's meant that some anti-Semites, presumably on the Left, have posted stories on the "Socialists for Obama" section of My.BarackObama.com -- scrubbed once conservative blogs made note of them -- blaming Israel for 9/11 and blathering on about the "Jewish Lobby."

Those two articles are down, though the conservative site Little Green Footballs captured the images, which I linked to above.

As an Instapundit reader notes "The Community Blogs at Obama 08 are no more 'official' than the rantings of BDS sufferers at an Obama rally. I have a blog there, just to prove how easy it is to get one, and Senator Obama has ZERO chance of getting my vote. You could have one. It’s as simple as signing up. There’s no vetting process of any kind. Any nut with an axe to grind can post any offensive material on the Community Blogs, and the Obama campaign will be unaware unless someone raises a stink. In fact, it’s entirely possible that a McCain operative could go on the site, create a blog, post offensive material, and then leak the URL to LGF to 'prove' how disreputable the Senator’s supporters are. Shades of Dan Rather!"

For instance, Monday morning, there's a Jemaah Islamiyah for Obama page which seems far more likely to have been penned by a conservative who hates Obama than an actual member of Jemaah Islamiyah.

While this is a problem for anyone with a relatively open commenting policy -- witness the issues DailyKos has had to deal with, as Bill O'Reilly has tried to damn the liberal blogger with the more hateful postings on that site; or some of the nastier posts about Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass, on the Washington Post website -- one wonders how long the Obama campaign will be able to keep it going.

ABC News reserves the right to remove postings that include crude language or personal attacks, but frankly we don't have the manpower to monitor it 24/7. And it seems quite obvious that some of the people posting are not who they say they are.

But the harsh glare of the media spotlight amidst the hateful views of some supporters, or internet dirty tricks, might make it difficult for Obama to continue.

-- jpt

UPDATE: Please note our blog post on some of the more offensive remarks posted at Sen. John McCain's home page as well as his Youtube page. Bottom line -- if activists are going to make an issue out of this kind of thing, they need to prepared for their preferred candidate to be slimed as well.

June 9, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (58)

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I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

Sarah

Posted by: Sarah | Mar 4, 2009 9:40:34 AM

"we don't have the manpower to monitor it 24/7"

Best argument for hiring two H1Bs for the cost of one American.

Republican mantra on H1Bs: More, more, more.

Obama 08!

Posted by: Good Woman | Jun 10, 2008 6:12:50 AM

Its the vast blog-wing conspiracy! LOL

Obama 08!

Posted by: Good Woman | Jun 10, 2008 6:03:18 AM

Interesting that some use their own background to ignore or justify individual tendencies toward racism.

Being of a specific heritage (or heritages) or claiming the advantage of life experience does not mean that any person is void or incapable of racist tendencies.

In addtions, mere posting on blogs does not prove, disprove, or justify the intentions or experiences of others, LA.

Some simply fail to recognize their own weaknesses and frailities and point to others in an effort to mislead.

The facts about Barack Obama continue to emerge, as they should, and give the American people cause to pause and consider what an Obama regime would entail.

The potential is decidedly less than promising.

Posted by: Jayhawk | Jun 10, 2008 12:49:23 AM

I can't agree on your idea that someone ,other than who they say they are, posted these comments. That they were planted by someone with an agenda to hurt Obama. I went there and saw a button to report offensive material. Are you telling me , with some of these posts up for 2 months, not one Obama supporter who frequents these blogs found them offensive? The big question is why does Obama attract these people?

Posted by: Bruce | Jun 9, 2008 9:02:50 PM

Lets get one thing straight, Obama supporters attacked Sen. Hillary Clinton online used vulgar language regularly in the same manner that these unethical individuals are attacking Sen. John McCain supporters. One news paper reported that known Obama committee members supported this tactics. I for one would not be surprised based on what I saw first hand within the past 18 months.

Posted by: Dr Hubert, Lt Col, USAF Retired | Jun 9, 2008 5:58:02 PM

HOPE AND CHANGE
CHANGE AND HOPE
Hope the voters will believe my pandering lies.
Change from a democratic nation to a socialist, marxist, communist, racist nation
HOPE AND CHANGE
CHANGE AND HOPE
-----GO AWAY, OBAMA-----

Posted by: Mary | Jun 9, 2008 5:38:33 PM

@Vote with Your Child In Mind:

Please do.

Posted by: len | Jun 9, 2008 4:00:25 PM

lens said:
there's nothing like winning a race to the bottom.

*******Exactly what we would get by electing McCain. Bottom of his Class. Censured by his Party. Traitor to his Country.

Bottom Feeder.

Posted by: Vote with Your Child In Mind | Jun 9, 2008 2:48:46 PM

Katrina said:
I fail to see how a small fraction of inflammatory posts could derail Obama's campaign.
*******
HP Boston, geevil, len and the rest of the NEOCONS want to beleive it will.

Too bad Obama supporters are educated.

Bummer dudes!

Posted by: Vote with Your Child In Mind | Jun 9, 2008 2:47:17 PM

"if activists are going to make an issue out of this kind of thing, they need to prepared for their preferred candidate to be slimed as well."

It's like the Boy Scout soap box derby motto: there's nothing like winning a race to the bottom.

Posted by: len | Jun 9, 2008 2:38:37 PM

I fail to see how a small fraction of inflammatory posts could derail Obama's campaign. The previous internet tricks didn't prevent him from becoming the presumptive democratic nominee. Unlike other parts of the world, we have relatively free access to information and opinion, albeit, with some of it bad.

Posted by: katrina | Jun 9, 2008 2:02:43 PM

A Million women will be marching to Denver to protest the DNC. A milllion women so far that will not be voting for Obama.

Posted by: maggie | Jun 9, 2008 12:37:31 PM

********************************
There will be men marching too.
Many people from all walks of life do not trust Obama, they will not vote for him in the GE.
Many "folks" who voted early on in the primary are not going to vote for him in the GE. They are wiser now and more will turn to McCain as BO is vetted and shown to be the fraud that he has always been. The DNC machine has cranked out a loser, yet AGAIN!
It is ironic that Kerry(the other loser) wanted McCain as VP!!

Posted by: HP Boston | Jun 9, 2008 1:57:53 PM

Wow, the Clintonistas are still at it.

I think if I were black or brown in America today I would be tempted to join Mr. Wright's church Have any of you ever heard of Tuskeege? Have you been exposed to the way blacks in America are treated? Are you aware that the Obama campaign has tried to keep racial incidents hushed up because he doesn't want to draw any more attention to the hate that is dividing our country? Sounds like a lot of you will make sure that attempt fails.

Most churches have Sunday Schools for children, btw, not that facts have anything to do with your emotional arguments.

Michelle Obama's thesis was on why middle class, well educated, Blacks tend to leave their communities behind. Which is an interesting thesis.

I have long noted a Rovian tinge to all most of the attacks on Barack Obama. If his ideas didn't win me over, those attacks would. Congratulations to all of the Clintonistas for learning so much from him.

One of the reasons the Hillary for McCain sites have been getting so many hits is that many of us here on earth are curious to see just how far out there you continue to go.

Posted by: Susanfrom29 | Jun 9, 2008 1:51:29 PM

Jackie,

And I am middle aged, black (considered so because my skin is brown), college educated, and a stranger to you as well.
I know I am not racist, as I have white, black, and indian blood running through my veins. I have raised two children that are also not racist because that is the way I raised them. The same that I received from my parents, one that was raised in the deep south.
I do not follow Obama without question. I did my own research of him after seeing him at the 2004 convention. I was sitting in my desert uniform, in the hot desert, where I watched him deliver the keynote address. I have read and researched...I like what he has to say. I do not believe he is like, nor does he believe, the words of others, specifically Wright, Ayers, etc.
I have been around plenty of people with controversial views....even grew up with some, but I don't hold those same views....I have a mind of my own.

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 1:43:51 PM

"James "Yousef" Yee, a former Army Muslim chaplain charged with espionage while serving at Gitmo, will represent Washington state for Obama at the Democratic National Convention, where he'll likely have a center-stage speaking role."

Posted by: geevill | Jun 9, 2008 1:41:06 PM

So, this guy can't manage his website, but is supposed to be entrusted to the nulear codes and our nation's security?

Apparently, directories are still open at 10:30 a.m. PST.

Posted by: Michael the Impaler | Jun 9, 2008 1:39:34 PM

LA in Indiana...


I gotta tell you....I know how you feel...when bloggers respond with personal comments to each other it means you are being heard.

It also makes one defensive....The questions I asked you are things I have answered myself....on an issue I researched at length.

I am just a middle aged woman, who is white, college educated and a stranger to you....I do not believe I am a racist...just like I do not believe you are an Obama "follower without question"

I think this is a conversation not an attack. I believe it is OK for people to disagree.

I also think it's OK to vote for different candidates.

Posted by: Jackie | Jun 9, 2008 1:19:15 PM

Pretty weak excuse claiming ABC doesn't have the manpower to monitor comments.

To date Little Green Footballs has had over 5.4 million comments and the proprietor manages to keep tabs on things pretty well.

I'd venture to say you don't have the technical know-how to do it, just like the amateurs running the Obama site.

Posted by: JWF | Jun 9, 2008 1:17:45 PM

Right Fired Up....I guess that noble profession as a community organizer helps make one an elitist.

==gasp== oh the horror of community organizing.

Posted by: LA in Indiana | Jun 9, 2008 1:16:31 PM

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