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I ghost-wrote letters to the editor for the McCain campaign

salon.com — I spent a morning in John McCain's Virginia campaign headquarters ghost-writing letters to the editor for McCain supporters to sign. I even pretended to have a son in Iraq.

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  • cattletracks, on 09/24/2008, -18/+394Why does this not surprise me? There are ethical problems clear down to the roots of the McCain campaign.
    • homercles337, on 09/24/2008, -5/+31I hope this does not surprise *anyone*. How people can support this guy and his hack VP is truly beyond me.
    • evillawngnome, on 09/24/2008, -21/+12"She has worked for both John McCain and Barack Obama in this election cycle. "
      • powatom, on 09/24/2008, -3/+40'Worked for' does not mean 'lied for'. From the tone of the article it sounds like she had never been asked to ghostwrite before the McCain camp asked her to.

        Of course, this doesn't mean that Obama's campaign DOESN'T do the same thing - but the article only suggests that McCain's does, not Obama's.
      • evillawngnome, on 09/24/2008, -2/+11I have to concede you are correct - the article does NOT say she *wrote* for obama. It says she *worked* for both campaigns, exactly as you point out.

        The editor mentions her credentials as a writer, so i wonder if it was intentional that i thought she was a professional ghost writer for *both* campaigns, or if i am the only one who thought "Oh, she does this regularly, for her pleasure."
      • powatom, on 09/24/2008, -0/+27FTA: "Let's loosen up my fingers a little first -- and my principles, too. Am I actually allowed to make up letters?"

        Definitely sounds like she doesn't do this kind of thing a lot, if at all.
      • gelato822, on 09/24/2008, -1/+15I volunteered for Obama's camp in Arlington, VA and we were given three choices:
        -Canvassing
        -Data Entry
        -Making Calls

        No letter writing there.
      • rotundo, on 09/24/2008, -0/+7@gelato822, same here. The campaign had a very straightforward and respectable approach. Also they suggested the idea of hosting a neighborhood house party where they would have some people who could answer questions about Obama. I thought that sounded kind of neat, though I'm not sure if I'll actually do it :)
    • WildTurkey101, on 09/24/2008, -32/+7Honestly, I have never given salon.com much credibility to begin with. Secondly, the editor states she worked for both parties campaigns? Seems a bit fishy there, I don't know how either party would allow someone to do that.

      Lastly, the way the article is written seems to be a bit of ghost-writing in itself ;-)

      I'm going to bury this.
      • meese, on 09/24/2008, -0/+17She's tried to infiltrate both campaigns. Maybe she didn't find anything interesting in the Obama campaign?
      • 5urr3al5am, on 09/24/2008, -2/+3the writer is obviously trying to gain creditability by saying that. any logical thinking person would flush this article
      • fedja, on 09/25/2008, -0/+2A logical thinking person would not type "creditability". You're hereby urged not to speak in the name of the thinking ones.
    • GoldBullion, on 09/24/2008, -17/+14LOL. McCain fans are idiots. But then again, so are Obama fans who believe he's "for change". In reality Obama will keep the phony "War on Terror" going and will likely expand it to Iran and Pakistan; he'll do nothing about our inflation-causing fiat currency; he won't repeal the "Patriot" Act (which he voted for)......

      To all of you who vote for Obama, expect to be disappointed when he becomes President. To all of you who vote for McCain, go ***** yourselves, warmongering Bush bootlickers.
      • ParanoydAndroid, on 09/24/2008, -2/+8fiat currency does not cause inflation anymore than a door causes robbery.
        There is a distinct difference between something allowing an effect, and something actually causing that effect.

        If our currency was tied to gold, then it would fluctuate as the price of gold fluctuates. In other words our currency could suddenly devalue (=inflation) if someone so much as found a large gold mine, and therefore increased supply. In that case the U.S would have few choices in reducing this devaluation.

        As our currency lies now, it is tied not to a specific good, but to the value the market places on it, and the value the market then places on other goods. This method allows for the best market allocation of resources. External factors do come in and screw this equation up, but that's not an indicator of a flawed currency, only of a flawed legal structure in dealing with businesses.

        Learn 2 economics. kthx
      • GoldBullion, on 09/24/2008, -3/+3NOPE. Inflation is caused by printing money out of thin air (which is what the Fed was created to do) and flooding the market with it. The people who get to use the newly printed money first (i.e., special interests and war profiteers) get the full value of the money, and the market later makes up for this imbalance with higher prices for goods and services, which The People are forced to pay. In essence, the Fed is a clocked wealth transferring organization which transfers money from the many to the elite few.

        If we had hard money, the Fed would not be able to print money out of thin air; and the government would therefore not be able to transfer The People's hard earned savings to special interests, nor would they be able to take us to war for profit.

      • ostracize, on 09/24/2008, -0/+4@ParanoydAndroid
        One of the reasons why gold has consistently been used as money is because it's supply and demand is relatively stable and therefore it is not subject to sudden price fluctuations.

        In the highly unlikely event that gold became so abundant that it's value as a medium of exchange disappeared, a truly free market will move towards another good that was deemed more stable in value. This has never happened in all of human history for any extended period of time so there is no reason to assume it will start happening any time soon.

        "When the 1968-1980 period is compared with the "purest" gold standard, 1879-1914, it is not at all clear that even short-term price stability was superior in recent years. Average changes in consumer prices were zero under gold, over 7% under paper; the standard deviation of those prices was 2.2% under gold, 3.1% under paper.
        ...
        In the 67 years prior to the beginning of the Federal Reserve system in 1913 the consumer price index in this country increased by 10 percent, and in the 67 years subsequent to 1913 the Consumer Price Index increased 625 percent."
        http://mises.org/books/caseforgold.pdf pg. 164,166-167
      • ParanoydAndroid, on 09/24/2008, -1/+6@GoldBullion: You are partially correct. The fed was not specifically created to create money out of thin air, and in a properly run central bank system that wouldn't have to happen. The fed would be created with money from the budget, use that money to buy large amounts of securities, and then sell those securities and buy them back to affect market operations (and handle the reserve ratio, etc ...).
        The fact that our fed has decided to spend money it doesn't have right now (by getting the treasury department to issue special bonds) is symptomatic of the way the American government likes to run, not symtomatic of a structural problem with fiat money.

        So yes, I should have mentioned that problems are not just with the legal system in regards to business, but also in the current way our government and the Fed are behaving, and in how we allow them to behave.

        @ostracize:

        1.) fiat money does allow a more efficient allocation of resources; however our government's meddling with the market has caused harm (I have a long previous post on another topic about how regulation and deregulation can both be good, but partial regulation is generally bad, so I'll not expound on the same topic here). I would contend that with the marked increase in government powers and secrecy compared to, e.g. 1912, the government of today would meddle with gold prices too (perhaps by buying up a very large reserve, and releasing it/buying it back to affect the dollar's worth, just as the fed does now).

        2.) Your statistics are cleverly constructed by the author, but deceptive. The average price change for the consumer was zero, but since gold-based currency is (statistically) just as likely to deflate as it is to inflate, that just means that the currency changed value both ways, and they average to zero. It does not mean that the average consumer saw no change in prices.

        3.Your inflation statistic apparently treats fiat currency as the only factor in inflation. Since 1913 economics has changed drastically. For example, since then it has become normal for countries to have large national debts, the market's ahve become globalized allowing trade and _especially_ trade defecits to affect inflation (trade defecits are arguably the number one long-term limiting factor in our current economic growth). Also, fiat currency doesn't have to inflate. Japan went through serious deflation for years (It could not convince Japanese people to spend money, they saved too much). Americans are obssessed with credit, and therefore spend way more money than actually even exists in the economy, this obviously raises inflation (greater than even the Fed can control).

        In the end, yes, there are serious problems with the Fed, and especially the FOMC; however, these problems are caused by our legal system, our business climate, our spending habits, and politicians that promote poor economic understanding (I will cut your taxes AND increase defense spending by 1 trillion, vote for me!). I'm merely arguing that a central bank system to handle monetary policy and fiat currency are not systemically bad ideas with inherent flaws. After all there are numerous, propserous, populated countries with little to no national debt, little too no inflation, etc ... who all use fiat currency.
      • Andrwmorph, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2You forgot to add:

        "And I base this knowledge on absolutely nothing."
      • ostracize, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2@ParanoidAndroyd
        1. Fiat currency allows a more flexible allocation of resources, but this makes the grand assumption that central banks already know what the best allocation of those resources are. I agree the government and/or large banking corporations, under a gold standard, could tamper with gold prices, but at least their power to do so can be tempered somewhat by the rest of the economy instead of today's situation where the government and Fed dictate everything

        2. The statistic didn't suggest there were no fluctuations in price at all. It did however point out that the standard deviation was less under gold than it was under paper which is the real telling point.

        3. This point is absolutely true, but under a gold standard (or silver, or watermelons, or whatever) American obsession with credit would HAVE to be restrained which, IMHO, is a good thing.
      • 5urr3al5am, on 09/24/2008, -0/+1@ParanoydAndroid
        Normally I don't like very long blog posts -- but I found yours particularly interesting and informative. I wish more digg post were so.
      • rotundo, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2I think the problem with gold is the same thing that people claim is good about it: it's mostly static. That is, it prevents the government from creating money out of thin air, which is good. But it prevents the money supply from expanding as the nations real productivity expands, which is bad.

        It seems that in a perfect world, fiat currency would be tied to the productivity of the nation, and expand and contract accordingly. But as soon as someone is charged with doing that, they ***** it up because of incompetence or greed.

        With gold, we're just stuck with a static economy, which isn't correct either. We gain people, we gain efficiencies, etc.

        So yeah, I don't know that gold would be better. It just puts us on the other side of the equation. Isn't there some way to handle it correctly?
    • j33buscr1p3s, on 09/24/2008, -6/+6This is really a fairly common practice with all kinds of campaigns. The problem with this example is the liberty the writer took with their letter.

      Having worked on campaigns and for grassroots organizing I've written plenty of letters that other people have signed their names to, I'd just like to think it was for a good cause. This often happens when you have a supporter who is not an expert, but they're willing to submit something to a paper. Often times papers will not publish LTE's from people that aren't in their distribution area, and a local name gives it more credibility.

      Like it or not, it happens all the time on both sides of issues.
      • danmarek, on 09/24/2008, -4/+3Couldn't agree more. I recently worked for a political campaigning firm and we had tons of pre-written letters, press releases, and testimonials that our clients (politicians running for office) could look through and use for any specific situation. Most papers will print anything that comes to them that's politically related, especially if it's from a trusted source (an established firm as opposed to Joe Shmoe).

        Politics are much like magic shows, they're full of illusions, where everyone is in on the trick and the only ones who get fooled are the common people.
      • TruthinessHurts, on 09/24/2008, -0/+7Really?
        To me that's dishonest.
        But it takes all kinds, I guess.
      • fedja, on 09/25/2008, -0/+1Citation needed.
    • Osjpr, on 09/24/2008, -0/+13How do you all expect integrity and less corruption in politics if all of you engage in the practice and "see no problem with it"? There is even a douchebag here saying, "I'd like to think it was for a good cause" What kind of cause is that? How much extreme stupidity is allowed into the system?
      • j33buscr1p3s, on 09/24/2008, -3/+1I just don't see the lack of integrity or corruption here. The person in this case stretches the truth in their letter. There are some serious ethical problems with that. But writing a letter for someone who supports a cause but doesn't have the time or expertise to write one of their own just doesn't seem like that big of a deal.

        It's not any different from using a form letter to contact your representative. Just because you don't take time to rewrite the stock e-mail an organization gives you, doesn't mean you don't agree with and support the contents.

        And as far as the good cause, I'm working on a grassroots movement for federal climate change policy, but don't want to use that as a defense because the tactic is not about whether or not its a good cause.
    • baltar2008, on 09/24/2008, -2/+6There are ethical problems clear down to the roots of conservative thinking.
    • schuder, on 09/24/2008, -5/+3Lying in politics surprises you? If you think the McCain campaign is the only one lying, cheating and whatnot you are sadly mistaken. Obama and McCain are the same. Democrats and Republicans are the same. For change to occur we need to realize that and move from there.
    • RealHyperX, on 09/24/2008, -9/+2Obama and his Chicago machine. and you call McCain on his ethics? Hypocrisy at its best!
    • culbeda, on 09/24/2008, -2/+1I think I saw a similar ad in my little local newspaper. (Town of MAYBE 25-30K people.) It was filled with the most ridiculous claims. (My favorite being that Palin has more experience than the entire Democratic ticket.) In the same edition, an Obama supporter gave a reasonably good summary of the state of things, but then went overboard with some ridiculous claims that washed away everything he/she had gotten right to begin with.

      In short, this is despicable, but people on the left aren't doing themselves any favors spouting fringe nonsense either. There is plenty of good information from sources that even conservatives cannot impeach. Use good information instead of trying to demonize all conservatives / Republicans and you may have a chance of swaying a few "undecideds".

    • thavi, on 09/24/2008, -2/+4how about "I dugg stories for obama's campaign"

      i know it's been/being done. just look at this ***** site, it's obama HQ
  • peheimbach, on 09/24/2008, -13/+131FTA:
    Editor's note: The following article was originally published on Sept. 13 in Dutch in the newspaper NRC Handelsblad, where Margriet Oostveen writes a weekly column called "Message From Washington." Oostveen has volunteered in various political campaigns and then written about the experience. She has worked for both John McCain and Barack Obama in this election cycle.

    I look around. I type:
    "My son, too, is there."
    Oh god, you liar. Now build up suspense. New paragraph.
    "And my heart needs him back safe so much."
    Yes, yes. Well done. Another paragraph -- why not? Now let's pump some iron in that mother, for after all, we are not with the Democrats here. Look up the right, patriotic phraseology in the model letters.
    [...]
    Yes, like that. And now full speed in the direction of McCain's plans to continue the war.

    Sell that war.

    With a mother's heart.
    "That is why Senator John McCain could count on my vote from day one."
    [...]
    Hmm. Does that sound like total doublespeak? Or does it sound like logical reasoning to a McCain supporter? I cannot come up with anything better.
    [END OF QUOTE]
    • arpnuke, on 09/24/2008, -4/+4The stuff in quotes was in the letter to the editor. The rest is meant for you. Come on, man, get with it.
      • TheVirus, on 09/24/2008, -3/+2I still don't get it.
      • TheVirus, on 09/24/2008, -1/+3Reading from the article makes more sense now. I don't find this shocking but it is disturbing. I'm sure every campaign does it. I'm sure every company that has 'testimonials' are mostly fake. I should know, I used to write them for an insurance company.
    • atgmac, on 09/24/2008, -3/+12Why put [END OF QUOTE] at the end of the entire post? It's pretty obvious it ends there.
    • glutamate, on 09/24/2008, -0/+4I understood the article. I don't understand that post.
  • Ridgeliner7, on 09/24/2008, -177/+30I was a member of the Obama Rapid Response Group, and that was quite common there, for organized efforts, on the part of the campaign and the group leaders, to mobilize members of that group, and hundreds of others, to respond to pro-McCain articles, whatever, with a flood of "citizen" complaints, or to present campaign talking points in response to pro-McCain comments.

    So, the point of this item is? That campaigns have always engaged in rapid responses to opponents to get their talking points out? Or was the intention to make it appear that such practices are beneath the Obama campaign? Well that is quite obviously untrue.

    • cattletracks, on 09/24/2008, -18/+102B.S. - Total B. S. You'd shrivel up and die if you did anything to help Obama get elected. Be real.
    • gwayo, on 09/24/2008, -12/+80Why would you waste your time doing that when you are anti-Obama? I somehow find that very hard to believe.
    • peheimbach, on 09/24/2008, -10/+109Ridge, I was -- and still am -- a member of ORR. (Though somewhat neglectful since Obama won the primary) "Complaints" were attempts to keep writers, speakers, pollsters, and many other types *honest*.

      The evident fact that you have difficulty distinguishing between what ORR did -- complain and seek to force honesty and issues-focus -- and what McCain's kiddies are doing in this article -- says a lot about you.
      • skatoolaki, on 09/25/2008, -0/+1Thank you for shedding some evidential light into this comment.
    • onyxcoltrane, on 09/24/2008, -9/+97Ridgeliner: Based on your history at Digg, you have no credibility. Why would any rational human being believe a word you wrote?
      • godofallcows, on 09/24/2008, -36/+11Why would any rational human being listen to ANYone on digg?
      • lockewasright, on 09/24/2008, -3/+11They just can't stop lying! Rethugs have zero respect for the basis of our government. They scared. An electorate the is both active and informed spells the end of GOP power grabs and robber baron giveaways.
      • schuder, on 09/24/2008, -2/+3If the electorate was informed they wouldn't be for either party. They'd realize both are equally set on destroying America. Being in the coffers of the NEA is horrible for education and is just as detrimental to American children as being corrupted by Big Oil. WAKE UP! Stop being partisan hacks people. Obama and McCain are smarmy at best.
    • qdkk, on 09/24/2008, -7/+49It's curious that your response to republican dishonesty is with more dishonesty on your part with a lie.
      • Hrodrik, on 09/24/2008, -1/+15It's not curious, it's natural.
      • buckrogers1965, on 09/24/2008, -0/+6For some strange reason they can't seem avoid a lie, even when it is in their best interests to just tell the truth.
      • Hrodrik, on 09/24/2008, -0/+7buckrogers, it's rarely in their best interests to tell the truth because the truth is that the republican ideals are a failure for humanity.
    • writerswrite, on 09/24/2008, -4/+45*****. I'm a member of that group too. I've never been asked to lie. I've been asked to express MY opinion, truthfully. It's not the same thing at all.
      • skatoolaki, on 09/25/2008, -1/+2Thank you, as well, for giving a point of view from someone who has actually worked for the group and can shed some light on the accusations the original commenter put forth.
    • ArchieAndrews, on 09/24/2008, -1/+30The best part of your obvious ***** is that it shows that you see how dishonest this practice is.
    • TruthinessHurts, on 09/24/2008, -2/+36Uh oh, ridge, looks like everyone has figured you out.
      LOL

      It AMAZES me that the right wing response to lies is more lies.
    • Hillsfar, on 09/24/2008, -1/+23Obama's campaign mobilized actual citizens to write their own letters to the editor.

      McCain's campaign paid ghost-writers to fake stories to submit.

      Ridgeliner, aka Ridgelicker, has consistently lied and lied again against Obama and for McCain. How do I know he's not lying again?!?
      • skatoolaki, on 09/25/2008, -0/+1Apparently - from comments of people that did actually work for this group - he is!
    • hellokutty, on 09/24/2008, -2/+32Step 1: Click on Ridgeliners name.

      Step 2: look at his comment history.

      Step 3. Copy and Paste this
      "Ridgeliner7Ridgeliner7
      15 hr 36 min ago
      Below viewing threshold. Hide
      Yes! More snarky hate talk from the radical-left Huffington Post!

      Please keep it up...such "articles" by the smear-merchants there are what is propelling Obama downward in the polls...I just love each and every article of hate you guys submit, I could just hug you all!! :D"

      Step 4. Decide that you are a liar.

      Best of luck in life!
    • oldhick, on 09/24/2008, -1/+28Look, I'm on the Internet! I can be anyone I want to be!!!

      Comment history, crap, how do you erase that???
    • niradg, on 09/24/2008, -2/+26Ridgeliner7, the #1 McCain supporter on all of Digg, is now a PROVEN LIAR.
    • DasTroll, on 09/24/2008, -2/+9A desperate attempt...I truly pity this person.
    • harronoob, on 09/24/2008, -1/+7I think the best part is that McCain does have a group of volunteers that do the type of thing that he just described. They "gain points" and get free campaign items for their service to the campaign.
    • buckrogers1965, on 09/24/2008, -1/+10Seriously?

      You expect anyone to believe you supported Obama with your posting history?

      What a liar!
    • eltrev, on 09/24/2008, -1/+7you lose, loser
    • kenedamick, on 09/24/2008, -1/+8What a ***** liar - just like your hero McCain.
    • ThsGuyRightHere, on 09/24/2008, -0/+7Really. When and where did you work for the Obama campaign. Give me three names of people you worked with and email addresses or phone numbers where they can be reached during business hours.
      • skatoolaki, on 09/25/2008, -0/+2I'm eager to see the response to this honest query.
    • 68024, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2Liar!
    • fedja, on 09/25/2008, -0/+2...and you have a son in Iraq, right?
  • ProLick, on 09/24/2008, -17/+158More Republican shilling unveiled. I'm shocked. I'm sure it's "just a few bad apples." ;)
    • evillawngnome, on 09/24/2008, -32/+8"She has worked for both John McCain and Barack Obama in this election cycle. "
      • letdowntourist, on 09/24/2008, -3/+29Worked for and Lied for are two very different things.
      • ThsGuyRightHere, on 09/24/2008, -0/+1FTA: "After a series of outings for Obama and a first mission as a phone banker for John McCain, I returned to McCain's headquarters in Arlington, Va. The offer was too alluring to delay -- they wanted to put me into action as a ghostwriter. Next to commercials and phone banking, writing letters to the editor is the most important method of the McCain campaign to attract voters. At least that is what's written in the guidelines that McCain campaign worker Phil Tuchman presents to me."

        Looks to me like this is the first time Ms. Oostveen worked as a ghost writer.
    • xDynaBlade, on 09/24/2008, -1/+7One bad apple spoils the whole barrel. :D
    • Belin, on 09/24/2008, -2/+2Not so shocked.
  • JenniferInMO, on 09/24/2008, -8/+214I am so desensitized to this stuff that it almost floats past me without any surprise. That is a dangerous mode to be in. This is truly an outrage and a fraud on the people. In fact, it is a fraud targeted on specific people in an attempt to steal the Presidency. And this man is a serial fraud. We cannot allow ourselves to get used to these things as business as usual. Get these stories up and out.
  • kelstock, on 09/24/2008, -6/+195"The assignment is simple: We are going to write letters to the editor and we are allowed to make up whatever we want -- as long as it adds to the campaign. After today we are supposed to use our free moments at home to create a flow of fictional fan mail for McCain. "Your letters," says Phil Tuchman, "will be sent to our campaign offices in battle states. Ohio. Pennsylvania. Virginia. New Hampshire. There we'll place them in local newspapers." "

    Thats some crazy friggin propaganda machine, hard to believe people are not upset.
    • AndrewMoyer, on 09/24/2008, -1/+17People _are_ upset!!!

      The only problem is, it's people that were already upset about this election for other reasons.

      American values are just a facade.
  • RealityDigg, on 09/24/2008, -5/+75Be afraid, be very afraid - Then do something about it!
    • rmxz, on 09/24/2008, -1/+5Like what? Vote on Digg?
    • Apocolypse007, on 09/24/2008, -1/+4yes i'll just walk into the republican campaign headquarters and in a stern voice tell them to stop. I'm sure they will listen. /sarcasm
      • buckrogers1965, on 09/24/2008, -0/+1That would work if you had been supporting them for years and they knew you and a few million Republicans tired of the lies all did it.
      • anotherjack, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2They may not obey, but they will listen. And if they hear it enough, they may cut it out. Humans do affect each other, it has been known to happen. Worth a shot. Or we could just roll over and nap...
  • thenekkidtruth, on 09/24/2008, -7/+42Why am I surprised? J. Edgar McCain, the Great Prevaricator. But what else are you going to do when your Double-Talk Express derailed years ago and you literally have less than nuthin'. Including Ethics. Disgusting.
    • evillawngnome, on 09/24/2008, -20/+3"She has worked for both John McCain and Barack Obama in this election cycle. "
      • TruthinessHurts, on 09/24/2008, -0/+9You really have that one comment.

        Do you think somehow that is defense of this level of dishonesty?
        And WHERE did it say she lied for Obama?

        Do you realize that every time you post that comment you are highlighting the fact that she only lied for ONE of those campaigns?
      • lockewasright, on 09/24/2008, -1/+6She was a plant. She infiltrated the McSame campaign. Go reread the article. Sound it out 1 syllable at a time. Take it slow. You can do it.
    • Merrik, on 09/24/2008, -1/+1John McCain spent five and a half years in a prison cell. He didn't have even a single ghostwriter then. How can you deny them to him now?
  • psy333che, on 09/24/2008, -7/+27 It does not surprise me at all. Look at the garbage we deal with day to day here... I can actually see some pleasure of some people putting out total lies .. using whatever techniques that have learned as a tool to distort events and people
  • nrvous250gt, on 09/24/2008, -36/+28It's a good thing deception and trickery are limited exclusively to the republican party.
    • godofallcows, on 09/24/2008, -14/+7You're an idiot.
      • psy333che, on 09/24/2008, -8/+6Look in the mirror and it is YOU who are an idiot
      • godofallcows, on 09/25/2008, -0/+1Well I guess your infallible argument has changed my mind. I'm gonna go support killing babies and high taxes.
    • evillawngnome, on 09/24/2008, -7/+12*whoosh*
    • lockewasright, on 09/24/2008, -2/+15Let's see there was Katherine Harris in Florida. Then there was Kenneth Blackwell in Ohio. What was the democrat's name? Oh yeah, that's right! There wasn't one!

      Quit trying to justify your party's blatant treason with false claims that everyone's doing it. That's just not true and even if it were true, it wouldn't make it right to do.
    • DasTroll, on 09/24/2008, -2/+2Seems like it...doesn't it?
    • metaliq, on 09/25/2008, -0/+3Yes. It is a good thing.
  • gridity, on 09/24/2008, -5/+56"The assignment is simple: We are going to write letters to the editor and we are allowed to make up whatever we want -- as long as it adds to the campaign."

    Similar assignment given to those who write the McCain ads, speeches, talking points too I suppose.
  • jayll, on 09/24/2008, -46/+9definitely not McCain's idea
    • Spuy767, on 09/24/2008, -14/+6You silly conservative. . . Don't you know that if someone not even remotely related to the McCain camp makes a statement that someone finds offensive, it was clearly under direct orders from McCain himself.
      • AtraNoxVII, on 09/24/2008, -0/+5Fine words and an insinuating appearance are seldom associated with true virtue.
        -Confucious
    • wendelgee2, on 09/24/2008, -4/+14Really? Then if he can't even run his campaign, how can he expect to run the country?
      • jayll, on 09/24/2008, -2/+7I should have said "definitely not McCain's idea - it's too clever of an idea"
      • queenbee93, on 09/24/2008, -0/+9No its not. It is the same idea Bush used in infiltrating fake Iraqi letters into the Iraq newspapers in 2003 -2005. You DO recall the Rendon group and the operatives who wrote fake letters then paid Iraqis to translate them into the local dialect and pretend real Iraqis had written them? Karl Rove playbook all over again. LOL
  • HippyInASuit, on 09/24/2008, -9/+47I'll bet $1000 worthless US dollars this gets flagged as inaccurate, based on absolutely no evidence, by the mindless masses before the day is over.
    • joe122370, on 09/24/2008, -22/+5why, because it is? random person makes up story and kool aid drinkers will automatically believe and digg it.
    • W16three, on 09/24/2008, -1/+8Sucker's bet.
    • jsbee, on 09/24/2008, -20/+5"based on absolutely no evidence"

      My assertion that this is inaccurate is backed up by just as much evidence as the original article (hint).
      • HippyInASuit, on 09/24/2008, -2/+23First person testimony is considered evidence.
      • apackofmonkeys, on 09/24/2008, -13/+3@HippyInASuit:
        Yeah, especially internet-post testimony. It's always true, you know!
      • joe122370, on 09/24/2008, -2/+4really? always true. i saw Obama personally abort a baby and kick it across a room.

        that's first person testimony on the internet, thus it is true because of your assertion
    • LilaMae217, on 09/24/2008, -2/+13I was just thinking the same thing. So it's not paranoid to suspect there are republican trolls out there who's sole purpose it is to flag as innaccurate anything negative said about their party's nominees?
      • lockewasright, on 09/24/2008, -2/+6They're flagging documented cases of Snake Handlin' Sarah telling lies as inaccurate. DOCUMENTED cases. I don't get why digg doesn't unflag those ones. Moos-o-lini and Granpa Simpson are out there lying almost daily and when they get busted, these freepers are out here flagging the articles. I bet they think that they are patriots and christians too.

        Attention GOPers: If you are engaged in such a thing then you are subverting your own democracy and breaking your own commandments.
      • LilaMae217, on 09/27/2008, -0/+1Yeah but somehow I don't think subverting democracy has ever been a big problem for the GOP, and amazingly christians never seem to have a problem with lying if it suits their agenda, and usually people who call themselves "patriots" don't realize it takes more than a bumper sticker.
    • jjfac, on 09/24/2008, -3/+6You know, you neo-cons need to request that your supplier of talking points mix it up a little on the catch-phrases. The "drank/drink the Kool-Aid' phrase is being way overused. Then again, it just illustrates the fact that you are just a bunch of mindless drones for a fascist state. So go ahead and flag it. The truth will come out soon enough.
    • AYork, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2I'm not exactly shocked by this (appalled, but not shocked), and wouldn't surprised to hear about similar things coming from any political campaign in any party or any nation. But still, this is one source, one guy, who gives no backup to his claims.

      It is unsubstantiated. Believable, but unsubstantiated.
    • jayzfans, on 09/24/2008, -0/+3well, digg is free for now, but I noticed most anti-McCain is beeing flagged as innacurate. maybe they are paying people to do that also, I am pretty sure the campaign has people watching for him on the Internet also.
  • ProjectGSX, on 09/24/2008, -15/+56Do we really believe that this is limited to the McCain campaign? Or limited to Republicans in general? Seriously people. I dont support McCain. But to think this is an isolated incident is a little naive.
    • HippyInASuit, on 09/24/2008, -1/+32I wouldn't be surprised if other campaigns from other political parties have done the same thing, but that doesn't make it all right.
    • tshaines, on 09/24/2008, -3/+7you are completely correct. it's politics - dirty on both sides. This sounds a lot like the form letters parties send to their supporters so they can send letters to senators, etc. Nothing new here...

      Digg-ers just see one side of the issue since Obama's got the gen X/Y internet users demographic more than covered - if you spend most of your time online you'd think Obama was going to win in a landslide, yet every scientific poll under the sun shows a dead heat.

      Politics will make your brain rot anyway.
    • Mejari, on 09/24/2008, -1/+4I'm sure other people have engaged in this practice, but I'm not going to condemn other politicians for this despicable act until I see something like this article about Obama or Ron Paul or Bob Barr or anyone else. I can and will condemn this politician for not being able to remove dishonesty from the core of his campaign.
      • texasconnelly, on 09/24/2008, -1/+2If this same article came out as a ghostwriter for Obama, his troops would be out in force to deny deny deny, bury the article, etc..

        Both major parties are denying real issues in favor of touting taking points and buzzwords, be they "surge" or "hope".

        Anyone who votes for one of the two parties is a frigging lemming. End of story.
    • sealink, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2The author does say she's worked for the Obama campaign, but does not say in what capacity.
      • Blastingcaps, on 09/24/2008, -4/+1sounds to me like she was sent from the Obama campaign to sabotage the McCaine campaign. I don't give her any credibility at all. If she was a Obama supporter first why did she swap parties in the first place? Sounds like an obvious scam to me.
      • Mejari, on 09/24/2008, -0/+3Way not to read the article. it says in there that the author simply wanted to see what volunteering for either campaign would be like and how they would compare. She wasn't sent by either campaign, try taking off your tinfoil hat before you post next time.
  • gospe1337, on 09/24/2008, -8/+13I'm pretty appalled by this. Nonetheless, to what credibility can I give the article author? Not that I wouldn't believe such things happen.
  • Timborako, on 09/24/2008, -20/+3As dishonest as these letters end up being, they seem like they would be a lot of fun to write; just opening up my mind and letting the BS and sappy content spill out...
  • FrostyTheDMan, on 09/24/2008, -58/+10The only difference is that Obama does his own lying.
    • Blastingcaps, on 09/24/2008, -1/+0Right-On Right-On.. i think you've pegged it man
  • evillawngnome, on 09/24/2008, -37/+11"She has worked for both John McCain and Barack Obama in this election cycle. "
    • powatom, on 09/24/2008, -2/+31Again, 'worked for' does not mean 'lied for'. From the tone of the article, one can infer that before McCain's camp asked her to ghostwrite, she had never been asked before.

      This does NOT mean that Obama's camp does not engage in such propaganda tactics (in fact it wouldn't surprise me if they did - it's common), but don't try to spin the article so that it says something you only WANT it to say, please. That is exactly why elections are such a sham.
  • ScienceDoc, on 09/24/2008, -14/+38I am telling you, these people are Nazis. The whole thing is fake from top to bottom. McSame was invented by his father in law. From American failure to pretend hero. It is obvious that Palin is a fake, they won't even let her talk to the press. The commercials are all lies and McSame just keeps reading off those little cards that tell him what to think. If these fools are elected, it will be the end of our Country as you know it. Be prepared for 1930s Germany.
    • badqat, on 09/24/2008, -21/+5Yes, only republicans are fake...but not Obama!

      I am telling you, these people are communists. The whole thing is fake from top to bottom. Obama was invented by Bill Ayres. From the ghetto to community organizing. It is obvious that Biden is a fake, after all, he's had how many hair plugs put in over the years? And luckily, the press is in the tank for Obama/Biden, so they hide all of the lies and gaffes, and Obama keeps reading off his teleprompter that tells him what to think. If these fools are elected, it will be then end of our country as you know it. Be prepared for 1920s Soviet Union.
    • magus_melchior, on 09/24/2008, -1/+7@badqat: Hitler gained popularity by railing against "socialists and communists" as you have done.

      Just another reason to tell the Republicans, "Never again!"
    • KarmaPoIice, on 09/24/2008, -2/+1
      Oh, you must know what 1930's germany was like because you were there, right? Oh wait, no you weren't.
    • bullhead2007, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2You know we have these things called history books and encyclopedias right?

      And no I don't mean the bible.
  • PresidentSoup, on 09/24/2008, -1/+33This is absolutely disguisting.
  • sultanica, on 09/24/2008, -1/+13Dirty tricks. Nothing new yet its important to spread this so the simpletons can see the reality of the media and government they put their trust in.
  • topsax, on 09/24/2008, -31/+4Hey man.. I'm a gost ryder too.. ya'all saw that movie with nicklas cagge.. I's his buddie..
    do ya thk i can git sum dough writtn for nobama. I rally need the jab. I gots so bad.. Bush givs me no money.. I a'nt sure nobama will git elecked so I am littl afaid.. whats ya thk?

    bugs
    • AtraNoxVII, on 09/24/2008, -3/+9I think you're a racist, immature, ignorant prick.
      • topsax, on 09/24/2008, -11/+4wa da meen.. them is big wards ther fella.. I knows the prick ward.. buts don knoz the oder wards..

        what's an AtraNoxVII? Is that like some elite class thing? i's relly skard now.. pls don huurt me.. i's sorrie

        bugs
  • inajeep, on 09/24/2008, -5/+20Ugh, I feel unclean just thinking about this type of propaganda.

    So what did this writer do for the Obama campaign and why the change of heart all of a sudden? Moral fortitude +3 pen come into his/her possession?
    • magus_melchior, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2The allure of money, at first, but even some who are thus ensnared can realize they don't want to do that sort of BS anymore.
    • paprikapink, on 09/29/2008, -0/+1She didn't have a change of heart. And she worked as a non-paid volunteer for both campaigns. She's a journalist from the Netherlands. From what I understand, she's done this routinely as a reporter -- work for a campaign and then use the experience as a story. (I know it's a weird concept for us Americans, but many cultures actually take an interest in the rest of the world.) This particular experience was particularly newsworthy.
  • scooby007, on 09/24/2008, -20/+7Sorry, this has nothing to do with McCain's campaign, as much as I dislike McSame. This is about the blackness of the soul of the writer who would agree to do this. If you do anything for money, you are as bad already as any sold-out politician.
    • powatom, on 09/24/2008, -0/+6If you do 'anything' for money?
    • meese, on 09/24/2008, -0/+8This was volunteer work.
    • Mejari, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2Yeah, when someone kills someone, the person who ordered them to kill them and gave them the gun shouldn't share any blame.

      Yeah, it's bad that she wrote it, but it's even worse that a national campaign for the president of the united states /asked/ her to write it in the first place.
  • SaperKain, on 09/24/2008, -4/+18Those ***** bastards have no shame. Throw the republican thugs out of office. All of the them. John McCain doesn’t even deserve his senate seat for this *****.
    • hmmmok, on 09/24/2008, -6/+4It's Lettergate. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!
      • SaperKain, on 09/24/2008, -2/+5Sigh republicans. I mean what are we going to do with them. They are clearly unprepared for challenges of 21st century. They are slowing us down and making us less and less competitive.
      • hmmmok, on 09/24/2008, -8/+2See my post about gullibility. It's all about you.
      • SaperKain, on 09/24/2008, -1/+5@ hmmmok. Look in the mirror.
  • kronzdigg, on 09/24/2008, -21/+5This guy is a scum bag (the ghost writer)
  • bmaggiemay, on 09/24/2008, -2/+12Tell me something I WANT to know....like the papers that allowed these letter "FROM" McCain to be published. McCain's honorable, civil campaign has been anything but....that's what happens when you have all lobbyists working for you. A couple of his so-called advisers received pay checks from three financial institutions that Bush and Paulson want to bail out......with these kind of connections why did McCain flip flop in a 24 hour period....can he really be that stupid......another case of shooting from the hip without waiting for the facts.
  • hmmmok, on 09/24/2008, -25/+9You ppl are so gullible. "Disgusting! My Barry would never do that."

    How many talking point comments by paid hacks do you read in a day?
  • sincerelysarah, on 09/24/2008, -1/+25Disgusting - to play on the emotions of Americans in such a misleading way.
  • rootsm3, on 09/24/2008, -13/+13Why is this so shocking? Politicians do and say whatever they need to to get elected. It's that simple so don't act so outraged and surprised. Obama's camp does it and McCain's camp does it.

    ad hominem -a claim or argument is rejected on the basis of some irrelevant fact about the author of or the person presenting the claim or argument
    • algaeturd, on 09/24/2008, -1/+9*citation needed for 'obama camp.'
      Sounds to me like you're a bitter republican who is trying to suggest it's 'OK' to lie and cheat to get what you want since you *think* the other side does it too.
      How disgusting. Let's not justify this *****...let's call it what it is: ***** and lies.
      • rootsm3, on 09/24/2008, -4/+4I'm a registered democrat and I call BS when I see it. It is certainly not ok to lie and cheat and steal your way to highest position in the world. However, to be so ignorant and naive to think that Obama's campaign hasn't lied once or used a questionable tactic ONCE is just ridiculous. They're trying to become the god damn president. You think you can get there by just being a regular old nice guy? No way. I'm asking for people to get real and stop being silly.

        And as much as I don't support the man, everything John McCain says and does is not wrong (ad hominem).
      • Kyan, on 09/24/2008, -0/+1I'm hoping Bush is the god damned president. As in the president damned by god. He certainly deserves it.
      • Nidy1, on 09/24/2008, -1/+1"Editor's note: The following article was originally published on Sept. 13 in Dutch in the newspaper NRC Handelsblad, where Margriet Oostveen writes a weekly column called "Message From Washington." Oostveen has volunteered in various political campaigns and then written about the experience. ***She has worked for both John McCain and Barack Obama in this election cycle.***"

        I'll just leave this here.
  • wilsondus, on 09/24/2008, -3/+13This kind of stuff just makes me mad.... at all of them... I will never believe another heart-felt story again as long as it's pertaining to someone's political position.
  • welliwonder, on 09/24/2008, -5/+15Wow, the McCain staff really have NO shame!
  • mshensley, on 09/24/2008, -2/+24It's a good thing nobody reads newspapers anymore.
  • letdowntourist, on 09/24/2008, -13/+2You think the editors they are writing to don't see through the schlock? I'd have a hard time believing stuff like that.
  • BLACKEAGLE, on 09/24/2008, -15/+4Wow has anyone ever worked for a campaign? Thats what they all do, its not about shame are the right thing to do its about getting votes people.
  • SnapETom, on 09/24/2008, -22/+10** NEWSFLASH **

    Dems and Reps on all campaign levels do this. It's standard operating procedure. Not to say it's right, but stop being so shocked and naive. Work on any campaign beyond your basic phone banker or precinct walker and you'll find out. What's even more common is for the campaign to write a letter to the editor, then ask you if they can sign your name to it and provide your contact info. The newspapers have to verify that you indeed wrote it, if they decide to run it. Your job is to say, "yep." when they call.
    • jacquesm, on 09/24/2008, -2/+3talk about being a 'tool'. If you allow that then you should have your citizenship revoked.
    • lowbot, on 09/24/2008, -2/+7*****. I and lots of people I know have volunteered for campaigns. Nothing like this was asked of us and as far as I can tell this is a new low. Granted, lots of bad things happen all around but cant we at least complain about the worst of the worst? Id sign a letter to the editor, but not one that claimed falsehoods like "My son is in Iraq" or "Im a wealthy business man."

      This is why people vote Republican. They think like you. They think "Dude, everything sucks anyway, Ill just vote for the guy who might give me a tax break." Pathetic.
    • smolsen, on 09/25/2008, -0/+0yeah, I gotta say, it's not the writing of the letter and sending it out for others to sign and send to newspapers that's rare and disgusting, it's the making up and writing LIES, putting them in the letter and sending it out for others to sign and send. what's amazing is there are no standards at all. and McCain continues to tout how important "his honor" is to him. he has been reading his own headlines waaay too long. move over, john edwards, someone else is too high on his own greatness to remember moral principles.
  • skojec, on 09/24/2008, -21/+10I hate to say it, but welcome to the wonderful world of PR. You don't think this happens every day, in a lot more places than the McCain campaign? That your favorite company doesn't do it? That Obama's campaign doesn't do it? That even if it's perhaps less brash than this reporter's scenario, it's not going on in campaign offices across the country during every election?

    Think again.

    It comes in different flavors, but ghostwriting first and finding the right person to sign it later is a common practice in the professional communications industry. When you're a writer, you just hope the people signing your work are ethical enough to actually mean what YOU say.
    • jacquesm, on 09/24/2008, -1/+6ghostwriting is bad enough when applied to works of fiction, it has absolutely no place in politics.
  • jojolina7, on 09/24/2008, -1/+16this makes me sick!
  • offcenter77, on 09/24/2008, -2/+20There is one word to describe this: propaganda
  • sonaboy, on 09/24/2008, -7/+13I'm not a fan of McCain, but as a person who works in marketing, this actually isn't as shocking as the author intends it to be.
    • lockewasright, on 09/24/2008, -0/+13Maybe it should be.
    • smolsen, on 09/25/2008, -0/+0as a person who works in marketing, ethics is all relative i guess. in some other fields, though obviously not all, lying is still shocking.
  • Digital.Totem, on 09/24/2008, -0/+16If you can't get people to vote for you based on what you really are make ***** up.
  • WiretapStudios, on 09/24/2008, -16/+5This 'ghostwriter' is a traitor to our country. Way to spread propaganda, you whore.
  • ElSnuggles, on 09/24/2008, -0/+14I really want to type something meaningful, charming, or funny about this article...but I can't. "stunned" perfectly describes me in this situation. I'm just sitting here thinking "Holy (*&(*&! I can't believe this".

    Unbelievable. What has happened to our poor country? Where have all the good republicans gone?

    /sigh
  • Wryly, on 09/24/2008, -0/+17They sold us a phony war, and led our soldiers to slaughter. Nothing is off-limits after that. If McCain had his way, we'd never leave. Have fun in your 9 houses.
    • topsax, on 09/25/2008, -2/+1whts a phooney war? i gots me sum frends in iraqqi. theys proudd to be's their. I thinks yous unamerican.. whys you gots am flag on yous photo? I thinks yous a commi.. yous just jello-us 'cause McKain gots 9

      putz
  • rdizzle, on 09/24/2008, -19/+2100 bucks says the Obama campaign does it too. It's strategy pushed by political operatives. Half the stuff that goes on probably isn't even known to the campaign managers.
    • algaeturd, on 09/24/2008, -1/+11THERE YOU GO...typically republican. Try to justify your lies and hypocrisy by suggesting that the other side 'probably' does it too.
      What a farce your whole party is. What a bunch of hypocritical liars and thieves.
    • buckrogers1965, on 09/24/2008, -0/+3So you admit that it is wrong. Thanks.
  • vballplayer, on 09/24/2008, -0/+33I have absolutely had it with the McCain campaign and the republicans. I just went to the Obama site and donated money. I cannot take another 4 years of those liars, cheaters and criminals.
    • lockewasright, on 09/24/2008, -0/+12I'm gonna do the same. It's the best we can do for right now. After the election maybe we can get government to write laws about election shenanigans.
    • chourobin, on 09/24/2008, -0/+6same here... take it all!
    • shallot, on 09/24/2008, -0/+5for every McSame lie, Obama gets 10 bucks from me. And here goes another 10 bucks to Obama.
    • seddyei, on 09/24/2008, -0/+2Just did the same. I for one will not put up with this ***** from McCain's disgusting and despicable campaign.
    • uppitydiggers, on 09/24/2008, -8/+0Wow, Obama supporters donating to Obama.

      Your fake anger isn't working.
    • topsax, on 09/25/2008, -4/+1hays.. I wents to nobamas site.. they says no mony.. bushes givs mes the dough.. but nobamas says no monys 'cause i's too stupids to vote

      putz
  • blackomegax, on 09/24/2008, -26/+5I spend my days posting pro-obama posts to digg threads under 30 different accounts, so i'm getting a kick out of this.
    • lockewasright, on 09/24/2008, -1/+9You republicans just can't stop! It's amazing. You probably think you're a good christian too.
      • topsax, on 09/25/2008, -1/+1i's a good christian.. i's thks nobamas gots relig-un too.. dont knos witch is troo.. i's thks hes battin both zides.. maybes islam todaas and christs tomorroos.. whoevers list-un is wht nobamas preechin'.. ya thk?

        putz
  • b0rg, on 09/24/2008, -2/+23"Dear Penthouse, I know this sounds unbelievable, but I have always had this fantasy of doing John McCain and a sarcastic dingbat from Alaska at the same time."
  • charlietuna, on 09/24/2008, -1/+9This is from the textbook "Candidates and Elections: Techniques and Strategy" , Rove, K. ISBN 666-6666666
    Page 342, chapter 6 "Shills, Ghostwriters and Spin Zones"
  • frostbyt, on 09/24/2008, -0/+9Despicable.
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