Snitch Central

[Alan]

President Obama's campaign has unveiled a new website, called Attach Watch, which is designed to give his supporters a place to report people who express disapproval or interpret his policies in an un-approved manner.

You can report things you've seen or heard through TV interviews, Public Statements, Forwarded Emails, Rumor, TV Ad, Video Ad, Radio Ad, robocall, or websites/blogs.

His first Ministry of Truth attempt (to report those who were critical of the health care act) ended badly after just a few weeks. I wonder how long this one will be around?

[LDAHL]

Dick Nixon would have been proud.

With a 55% disapproval rating, and the loss of the House seat formerly held by the unfortunately yclept Rep. Weiner being at least partially laid at his door, I hope he's got a robust server.

[peggy]

Ok....I don't see anything wrong with that web site. Lies are told and spread about him constantly (not American, loves terrorist, wants to take over health care, etc...) I see it as a kind of fact-check for him and democrats/liberals in general. Do you have a problem with him trying to set the record straight? Do you have a problem with folks getting the truth?
You can fact check all of his stuff too you know.
I suppose if you wanted me to I could give you links to web sites devoted entirely to criticizing him and spreading lies and rumors.

[Alan]

It's a great way to build up your enemies list. What do you think they'll do with the information provided?
If it were simply a matter of fact checking, don't you think we already have a perfect infrastructure for doing that within the media, the internet and our own ability to reason?
While I'm certain that this is not the case, this sort of thing could easily be the pre-cursor to the type of thoughtcrime infrastructure needed to build up, and retain, an authoritarian state. Plus, I think it shows just how tone-deaf his campaign may be. At least they don't call it "Turn in your neighbor".

[creaker]

It's a great way to build up your enemies list. What do you think they'll do with the information provided?
If it were simply a matter of fact checking, don't you think we already have a perfect infrastructure for doing that within the media, the internet and our own ability to reason?
While I'm certain that this is not the case, this sort of thing could easily be the pre-cursor to the type of thoughtcrime infrastructure needed to build up, and retain, an authoritarian state. Plus, I think it shows just how tone-deaf his campaign may be. At least they don't call it "Turn in your neighbor".

This is just the DNC, right?

It's not a very good idea. Although grassroots information gathering is cheaper and more widespread, I expect the amount of disinformation that will come into the site is going to create an unusable signal to noise ratio.

[Gregg]

Can I just add myself to the list at the same time I register on the do not call list? Would be much more efficient that way.

[loosechickens]

It's funny, but I have a lot less problem with this than I have with the way the rightwing comes up with a catchy name about something (like "Snitch Central"), and then the BLINDING speed with which every rightwinger gloms onto it, to the point where when you Google on the words "snitch central", you can see almost simultaneous spreading of the new term all over the blogosphere, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and various rightwing talk show hosts........

It's like watching so many tin soldiers, all marching to the same drummer, all singing the same tune, all behaving as though they just invented the term themselves......THAT's the part that seems scary to ME.

It's the lockstep quality.......scary, but it works. The Dems get about a D in marketing and propaganda, but I give the rightwing an A+ in that department.

[Gina]

If they want to track all the hate and lies coming from the right, all they have to do is tune into Fox news.

There certainly are a lot of mistruths out there, and no side is innocent, but this site has a feeling of paranoia to it. Do we really need the 'Obama Youth'?

No one will turn in any pertinent information they don't already have. It's probably just a way to fluff up their mailing list, and perhaps a way to make the die-hards feel as if they are contributing to 'the cause'.


Cheney probably wishes he had thought of it.

[LDAHL]

It's funny, but I have a lot less problem with this than I have with the way the rightwing comes up with a catchy name about something (like "Snitch Central"), and then the BLINDING speed with which every rightwinger gloms onto it, to the point where when you Google on the words "snitch central", you can see almost simultaneous spreading of the new term all over the blogosphere, Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and various rightwing talk show hosts........

It's like watching so many tin soldiers, all marching to the same drummer, all singing the same tune, all behaving as though they just invented the term themselves......THAT's the part that seems scary to ME.

It's the lockstep quality.......scary, but it works. The Dems get about a D in marketing and propaganda, but I give the rightwing an A+ in that department.

It's not really a new term ground out on short notice by the Great Right Wing Conspiracy, I think it comes from the SnitchCentral.com commercial website.

[Alan]

This is just the DNC, right?

It's the Obama for America campaign. Not sure how it interacts with the DNC.