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sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
Tue Oct 6, 2015, 11:43 AM Oct 2015

The Making of Smear Campaigns & the Dark Money that Pays for them!

When Anonymous dumped HB Gary's emails onto the Internet, we saw how a Security Contractor bids on a Contract to Smear and discredit individuals and organizations that might be a threat to their potential 'Clients'.

Never mind the question of why a Security Contractor would be in the business of Smear Campaigns, other than it appears, their real function is to make money.

In this case the potential Client was Bank of America who was apparently fearful that Wikileaks was about to release documents exposing corruption within their organization.

How HB Gary knew they were interested in a smear campaign against those who were publicly discussing Bank Fraud I can't say.

Those targeted for the Smear Campaign we learned were 'Progressive Orgs and Bloggers' one of whom was Glenn Greenwald.

Someone got the contract as we saw the smears and talking points aimed at Greenwald not long afterwards.

Reading the emails gave us look at how they do their, what they call 'opposition research', dirty work. It was an education on how these unethical people wallow in attempting to destroy good people.

The contract, had HB Gary received it ,would have been worth millions of dollars.

Since the Citizens United Ruling made it possible for the Wealthy to donate to the immoral entities known as Super Pacs, there is no limit on the money available for Political Smear Campaigns, now known as Dark Money because the donors can hide behind anonymity while the Pacs can CLAIM they are not working WITH a particular campaign in order to keep it legal.

David Brock's Hillary Super Pac's recent attempt at a Smear Campaign against Bernie Sanders was quickly exposed thankfully, due to Brock's arrogant assumption that while attempting to embroil Reporters in his dirty tricks, they would 'respect HIS anonimity'.

As we know, Brock ended up inadvertently raising $1.3 Million dollars for BERNIE.


That however won't stop them from reaching for all that Dark Money that is available to smear anyone who threatens the interests of the Ruling Class.

This is what they count on to make their Smear Campaigns successful.

First do some, what Brock calls 'opposition research'. Check out the target's personal history as they did with Greenwald, their spouses, children etc. Disgusting yes, but that is what we learned 'what schools do his kids, if any, go to etc.

Once they settle on a talking point, as we saw with Brock, the 'plant it' in the media, on blogs and wherever they think it will get the most exposure.

We know they hire a few people to get their smear started, some who will post links to the smear on various internet forums.

They don't necessarily need an army to keep the smears going. Once out there, some will spread them around for free due to their own agendas.

But WE play an intended, by them, role too. They count on those of us who are likely to be outraged by the deceptions and distortions which will draw us into their negative threads, ending up with hundreds of comments, kicking and keeping the lies alive.

I used to fall for that but realized that this is exactly what they want.

Lies and distortions SHOULD be thoroughly exposed. But THEY know, that it is the HEADLINE that will get the attention, any corrections of the lies in the comment section will not beyond a few who respond within the thread.

We are NOT organized or funded the way they are.

But we don't have to help them.

So much has been written now about their tactics that we CAN fight them and ARE.

See eg, the two main talking points that have been circulating this week about Bernie.

Guns and of all things, Gay Rights.

Aside from everything else, when they DO this, they are also deliberately DISTRACTING people from every other issue.

So how can help them WASTE THEIR MONEY?

My opinion is, do not kick their threads.

Write your own TRUTHFUL thread if you want to correct them on the issues they choose to try to exploit.

And, think about what it is they DON'T want us to talk about.

My feeling is they do not want us to talk about the TPP this week.

Since it is a TOP issue for a majority of Voters, I think we should not be distracted from it.

The other issue they would prefer we not talk about, ALSO a top issue for a majority of voters is The Money in Politics.

Those are two of the main reasons I support Bernie Sanders.

And I will not be distracted, baited or anything else into not discussing them.

I will not kick their Talking Points, let them die the natural death they deserve and talk about what they do NOT want us to talk about.

Just my opinion based on all I've learned about this despicable practice that is so harming our electoral system.

One more thing, I like the idea of USING their distortions and lies to help raise money for Bernie as we did with Brock

I'm sure many people won't agree with me and may have better ideas to counter these vile Dark Money smear campaigns.

I would appreciate other ideas because we cannot let their MONEY interfere with our elections anymore.

Smear campaigning paid for with Citizen's United Money should be illegal.





A vote for Bernie Sanders is a vote AGAINST Citizens United!



10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The Making of Smear Campaigns & the Dark Money that Pays for them! (Original Post) sabrina 1 Oct 2015 OP
K&R! marym625 Oct 2015 #1
K&R azmom Oct 2015 #2
Is there a way we can make sure that one question asked in debates next Tuesday is on the TPP? cascadiance Oct 2015 #3
Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier. But since you asked the question I think you sabrina 1 Oct 2015 #8
I'm concerned that if we get Corporate personhood overturned with a constitutional amendment... cascadiance Oct 2015 #9
Interesting points. I am not sure how Citizens United being overturned would affect our right sabrina 1 Oct 2015 #10
K & R! SoapBox Oct 2015 #4
Which is precisley why my ignore list is close to 200 n/t FlatBaroque Oct 2015 #5
Kicked and recommended a whole bunch! Enthusiast Oct 2015 #6
nice post n/t mhatrw Oct 2015 #7
 

cascadiance

(19,537 posts)
3. Is there a way we can make sure that one question asked in debates next Tuesday is on the TPP?
Tue Oct 6, 2015, 12:15 PM
Oct 2015

We NEED that to be discussed, and most thinking individuals can't argue with it having very topical relevance now, with it likely going to congress shortly for a final vote!

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
8. Sorry I didn't get back to you earlier. But since you asked the question I think you
Tue Oct 6, 2015, 07:07 PM
Oct 2015

found an answer and posted a link to where we can ask.

I'd like to ask about Citizens United also. It's a huge issue in this campaign.

 

cascadiance

(19,537 posts)
9. I'm concerned that if we get Corporate personhood overturned with a constitutional amendment...
Tue Oct 6, 2015, 09:06 PM
Oct 2015

... that IS needed for many things including getting rid of Citizen's United, that unless we also couple that with an "upgrade" to the 4th amendment to be relevant to the online world of the 21st century and use pretexts like copyright laws, etc. to protect the privacy of data we share online as OUR data, and not being "owned" by the corporations where we have it sitting on their servers (like google and facebook). If we don't have both of these amendments intelligently done together, I predict that the corporations will hold up their hands if corporate personhood is overturned, and say that government has free reign to do as much spying on our online data as they like since corporations will no longer "own" that data themselves to "protect" it.

We need to ensure that when corporate personhood is overturned, online data and its security is ours as much as copyrighted data is owned by those owning copyrights to music and movies, etc. That way, we won't be divided if Citizen's United is overturned.

I'd like to hear some debate question trying to frame a question like that on these two topics so that we can make that very question visible to the citizen's at large, so that they can demand that both problems get solved at once, and can have a good idea which leader would be the best to stand up for both of them being solved, and appointing justices to SCOTUS to also rule in favor of such an approach too.

sabrina 1

(62,325 posts)
10. Interesting points. I am not sure how Citizens United being overturned would affect our right
Tue Oct 6, 2015, 09:28 PM
Oct 2015

own our own words though. Both are important. I abhor the specious argument that because our personal data resides on servers they own, it is theirs to do with as they wish. That is BS.

So yes, we do need laws to make it impossible for them to make that claim.

I guess when you rent a house, you lose your 4th Amendment rights also since you are living in someone else's house meaning they are free to come and go anytime they please, go through your personal papers etc without a warrant and without asking you.

When you pay to rent a home, that is off limits without probably cause even to the owner.

Same thing with servers. We pay for the service. There is usually a privacy agreement also, which no one seems to remember. I eg, called my phone co after all this happened, Verizon, and asked them why they were sharing my personal info with the government without a warrant and without my permission.

I reminded them of the privacy agreement. The respondent denied they were doing that. Which indicated to me she knew it was wrong.

So since they abuse these rights, definitely we need some laws in place.

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